Traced 1,862 missing persons in the last two months: Police

According to the data, the number of missing persons found in December also included those who had gone missing during the last 10 years. In December, 901 missing persons were traced while only 781 (including children and adults) were reported to have gone missing during the month.

Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria had announced the special drive to trace missing persons on November 5 last year. “We have begun a special drive to trace missing girls and boys under the age of 18. I have asked our teams to go back to 10 years and track each missing child,” Maria had said.

In many instances, the police also found the missing persons at religious places, where free food was available.
Special teams, each comprising an officer and at least four constables, were formed to work on the initiative under the supervision of the police inspector (crime) at the police station concerned. A cash reward of Rs 10,500 for teams that bust begging or child labour rackets and Rs 5,000 for every missing child traced was also announced.

Police officers said that even though a large number of minors who go missing every year are runaway teenagers, tracing them is still a priority as they soon become involved with, or are forced into, various unlawful activities.

Patil said they were yet to establish any specific trend for the adults who went missing. “We are still in the process of examining the data for the missing adults.”

“Nine per cent of the total number of persons registered missing in the last 10 years are still untraced. There are many reasons. Some find their way to illegal activities in another part of the city. What is interesting is that in many cases, they never left the city, but chose not to be found near their homes,” Patil said.

“Many young adults between the ages of 18 and 23 fight with their families and leave them voluntarily. They are rebellious and run far away from home,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police Vasant Dhobale, who is in charge of the city police’s Missing Persons Bureau. Leaving their homes with little or no money, they fall prey to illegal activities, he said.