Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, Dec 21 : In a shocking incident, a 12-year-old school girl, who was reportedly missing since last evening, was found murdered after being raped, at an isolated area at Thathankulam Village near Srivaikundam in this district, today.

Police said the victim studying Class VII in a private school at Nasareth did not return home after attending class last evening. The girl's parents lodged a complaint with the police, after their search to locate their daughter went futile. Meanwhile, on a complaint from passersby today that the body of a girl was lying at Thathankulam, police rushed to the area and identified the body as that of the girl reported missing.

Preliminary reports said the girl was raped before being strangled to death. The motive behind the murder is yet to be ascertained. Further investigations were on, police said.

- Agencies