The number of missing girls, who remained untraced in Delhi, has seen a more than 500 per cent rise in five years between 2009 and 2014, the Delhi government has told the Supreme Court. The total number of untraced children registered a 400 per cent jump in this period.
According to the Delhi Legal Services Authority, 38 per cent children left their homes of their own volition, 21 per cent did so because of parents’ scolding, while 17 per cent went missing as they lost their way home.
Elopement and academic pressure accounted for 8 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively, of the missing cases of those below the age of 18. Kidnapping and abduction with criminal intent were reasons for three per cent of such cases.
In an affidavit, the National Capital Territory of Delhi government submitted details of children reported missing since 2009 up to June this year. As per the figures, out of 3,638 missing children this year, 2,291 were found and 1,347 still remain untraced. The number of girls who cannot be traced was alarmingly higher at 817 than 530 among boys.
Though Delhi government’s home department claimed that every section concerned as well as the Delhi Police were taking proactive and concerted action in these cases, data submitted to the court showed a steady rise every year from 2009 to 2014.
The clarification came in response to a PIL filed by advocate Sarwa Mitter, who demanded capital punishment for those who kidnapped children for different reasons, including to trade their organs. Mitter claimed the official figure of missing children was over 75,000 in three years in 11 states.
Listing out its efforts in tracing these children, the affidavit said the cases were being monitored by the district deputy commissioner of police and other senior officers. The DCP Crime, who is the nodal officer for the anti-human trafficking unit in Delhi, held regular meetings to find any linkages with organised crime.