Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday visited the residence of the 12-year-old girl who was found allegedly sexually assaulted and murdered in Budgam district of central Kashmir.

Abdullah expressed grief over the incident and prayed for the strength and patience for the bereaved family who continued to protest demanding death penalty for the accused.

The chief minister said the incident has shaken the conscience of society and asserted that such elements have no place in civilised society. He assured that the culprits would be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law. The police has arrested the accused identified as Mudasir Ahmad Mir, who they said has acted alone. The case has been registered under section 137 (1), 103 of BNS and 5/6 of POCSO Act. J&K police appealed to the public to maintain peace, communal harmony, and public order and to cooperate with the investigating agencies and advised not to take the law into their own hands and not to circulate rumours, speculative content, or unverified allegations regarding the case. he victim was found murdered in the Galwanpora area of Budgam on May 24, a day after she was reported missing when she was on way to attend Quran classes at a local seminary.