Srinagar, Aug 10: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday strongly condemned the rape of a 12-year-old girl in Bandipora district, terming the incident "shameful" and calling for the immediate arrest and severe punishment to those responsible.

Reacting to the case that has sent shockwaves across the Valley, the CM emphasized that such crimes against children are unacceptable and must be dealt with firmly under the law.
"It is a shame. It should not happen. And where it happens, the culprits should be caught immediately and they should be punished severely," Omar told Brighter Kashmir.
The CM stressed the need for strict enforcement of the stringent legal provisions enacted following the 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape case, asserting that these safeguards must be fully implemented in Jammu and Kashmir as well.
"As we saw strict laws were implemented after the Nirbhaya case, it must be enacted here in J&K too," he stated.
Earlier, Bandipora Police cracked the case within 12 hours by arresting two accused persons following overnight raids.
The two accused, who were reportedly unknown to the victim, have been taken into custody.
A case and First Information Report (FIR) under relevant sections of law have been registered, and further investigation is underway.
The incident has reignited concerns over the safety of minors in the region.