Mumbai: Child kidnapping on the rise, reveals RTI
Between 2018 and April 2019 an alarming 3,041 young boys and girls were kidnapped.
HIGHLIGHTS
Between 2018 and April 2019 an alarming 3,041 young boys and girls were kidnapped
Out of these the count of young girls stood at 2,000 whereas the count of boys was at 1,041
Of the above 1,422 girls and 792 boys were found but a significant number remained untraceable
The number of kidnappings in Mumbai has seen a steady uptick. Between 2018 and April 2019 an alarming 3,041 cases of kidnapping of young boys and girls came up before the Mumbai Police. Out of these, the count of young girls stood at 2,000 whereas the count of boys was at 1,041.
Of the above 1,422 girls and 792 boys were found but a significant number remained untraceable. These revelations have been brought to light by Shakeel Ahmed Shaikh, an RTI activist.
Shaikh says that Mumbai police should create a special task force and find these missing people at the earliest. Many could probably be dead or could have become victims of human trafficking.
The RTI also reveals that between April 2018 and April 2019 more than 13,000 missing complaints were registered. These figures pertain to people above the age of 18.
Out of 7,043 cases of missing women 4,264 were solved. In the male category of the 6,463 cases 3,995 were found. Still a significant number in both cases remained untraceable.
Mumbai enjoys the status of being one of the safest cities in the country when it comes to women's safety. But the alarming rise in kidnapping cases in the city over the past couple of years should be a matter of concern.
An analysis of the figures since 2013 shows how there has been a steady increase in the kidnapping cases and how a large number of young girls still remain untraceable.
Year Kidnapping cases Not found
2013 92 13
2014 1,500 25
2015 927 49
2016 1,169 78
2017 1,368 133
2018 2,000 578
Advocate Abha Singh says, according to National Crime Records Bureau, cases of kidnapping and abduction of children have gone up 250 per cent in the past five years. Kidnapping and abduction of children constitute 51 per cent of all crimes against children.
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Every day 174 children go missing and around half are found. Boys are used for begging, child pornography or working in factories. Girls and women are sold in red-light areas. A number of teenagers elope and as they are below 18 their parents lodge a kidnapping complaint as well.
The count of young boys too has been increasing over the years.
Year Kidnapping cases Not found
2013 87 35
2014 1,027 41
2015 653 59
2016 734 51
2017 889 70
2018 1,041 249
Mobile and social media is being used by criminals to lure young boys and girls. Mumbai has a huge migrant population and many a times there is nobody at home to take care of the children, says Abha Singh.
According to Mumbai Police, due to the sustained efforts, out of 874 children reported missing since 2015, 243 boys and 289 girls have been found.
As a first step parents/relatives of missing children are asked to register an official complaint as soon as such cases come to light. There is a SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) in place which is strictly followed for tracking such cases.
Further, there is an anti-human trafficking unit, which is dedicated to the task of solving such cases working under the umbrella of Operation Smile/Operation Muskan, a Mumbai Police officer said.
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