India, May 25 -- A 12-year-old girl was found dead in Central Kashmir's Budgam district on Saturday, with police saying the case appears to be one of rape and murder.

Addressing a press conference, SSP Budgam Hariprasad K K said Budgam Police Station received information about the girl going missing around 10 pm on May 23.

He said police registered an FIR under relevant sections related to the kidnapping of a minor and launched extensive searches during the night.

"This morning at around 7:15 AM, the girl's body was recovered from a spot nearly 200 metres away from her home," SSP Budgam said, adding that all medico-legal formalities were completed afterwards.

"At this stage, prima facie, it appears to be a case of rape and murder, an...