Alarming stats: 3,540 children missing in city

As many as 3,540 children up to 18 years have gone missing in the NCT of Delhi in this current year till the end of June, while 2,259 of them have been traced, as reported by Delhi Police. Stating this in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, said of the total missing children during the year, 1,519 are males and 2,021 are females.

Among the total traced during the year till June as per records of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a total of 1,039 males and 1,220 females have been traced.

Among the missing females during 2016 so far include 138 between 0 to 8 years, 83 in 8-12 years and 1,800 are between 12 to 18 years.

Similarly among the male children missing include 223 between 0-8 years, 265 between 8-12 years and another 1,031 between 12 to 18 years of age. Ahir said besides this, Haryana has reported that a total of 1,970 children have been reported missing during the last two years, of which 1,417 have been traced.

Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, he said, have reported that 518 and 256 children respectively had gone missing during last two years of which 494 and 236 have been traced.

Replying to supplementaries, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said there are no specific reasons for the children going missing and there are various reasons for which a girl child is taken away from home or they leave the home.

Citing a study analysis made by Delhi Legal Service Authority about why so many children are missing in the national capital region, he said it has been found that 30.2 per cent children left on their own will.