In Mumbai, three to four minor girls go missing daily on average, leaving their families distraught and the police under immense pressure. Even with their best efforts, law enforcement frequently finds it difficult to find clues. Cases of missing minor girls are registered as kidnapping under Section MBT 137 of VNS. However, parents often hesitate to give full information, especially when it comes to love affairs, fearing societal backlash and defamation. This hesitancy makes investigations more difficult, often delaying the resolution of cases.
Mumbai Police prioritize tracing missing girls by using all available resources, according to a Missing Bureau spokesperson. But, when the family hesitate in giving complete information, police have to rely on their network of informants to obtain information. Some girls think they will be exempt from the law, when they turn 18, according to police officials. However, the law considers their age at the time the case is filed, leaving further decisions to the court.
958 Incidents of Sexual Harassment
Between January and November, Mumbai reported 958 incidents of sexual harassment, with 565 involving minors, alongside 1,129 kidnapping cases. While 1,025 incidents have been registered, others remain under investigation. The reluctance of families to cooperate fully continues to be a significant challenge in resolving these sensitive cases
1,025 Minor Girls Kidnapped in Mumbai This Year, 105 Still Missing
In the past 11 months, Mumbai Police registered 1,025 cases of minor girls going missing, with 105 still untraced. Last year, the figure stood at 1,081. Between January and November, 5,827 crime cases against women were reported, a 400-case increase from last year, with 5,376 cases solved.
Reasons for Disappearance
Investigations reveal that most girls go missing due to love affairs, while some are coerced into kidnapping. Other reasons include leaving home over minor disputes, fear of forced marriage, study pressure, or poverty.
Mumbai Police from time to time, conduct special drives to trace missing minors, focusing on reuniting them with their families. Despite these efforts, challenges persist as many cases involve complex family dynamics and societal stigma. The police emphasize cooperation from families to speed up investigations and ensure the safety of missing girls.
These cases highlight the need for societal awareness and preventive measures to address the underlying causes of such disappearances.
How Does NGO Helps in Tracing Missing Girls?
NGO also helps in finding missing girls. NGO personnel are deployed at major stations of Mumbai, according to Snehal Jadhav, who works with Child Line NGO. He sees who the girl is with. If she is alone, then she is asked in confidence and listened her story of running away from home. Each month, 20 to 25 boys and girls are picked up at the CST station by themselves. The police then counsel them and bring them back to their parents.
