The Hindu : New Delhi News : Alarming rise in cases of missing kids

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 21, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

New Delhi

New Delhi

Alarming rise in cases of missing kids

Staff Reporter

As many as 2,503 children untraceable in the Capital over the past 12 months and 17 days

A Delhi commission for child rights wants the police to probe all “missing” complaints
‘Urgent need to integrate the services of the Delhi police, State and National level agencies’

File Photo

‘Missing’ action: Residents of Nithari village in Noida holding a demonstration against police inaction in probe into cases of missing children in the Capital in December last year.

NEW DELHI: The statistics are appalling. As many as 2,503 children have gone missing in the Capital over the past 12 months and 17 days.

Sounding the alarm, the recently set up Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights wants the police to probe all “missing” complaints and submit within 15 days details of inquiries and investigations carried out to trace these children.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Commission chairperson Amod Kanth admitted that there was need for a “thorough” inquiry into these incidents. “Taking cognisance of the recent media reports regarding the missing children in Delhi, the Commission has issued notices to the Police Commissioner for necessary action, and for information to the Commission,” Mr. Kanth said.

A former IPS officer, Mr. Kanth said the Commission had asked the police to conduct preliminary inquiries and register cases of kidnapping and abduction within the meaning and provisions of Sections of 361-374 of the Indian Penal Code and to take legal action under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000/06, Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986, Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956.

“There is an urgent need to integrate the services of the Delhi police and the National Crime Records Bureau, Ministries of Women and Child Development and State and National level agencies concerned to take care of these children,” he said.

Suggestion dismissed

Dismissing the Police Commissioner’s suggestion that the police would be setting up a child helpline as “unnecessary”, Mr. Kanth said: “The toll-free number 1098 is already existent and there is no need for another helpline. We must, however, join hands to protect and care for children.”

Special police units

The DCPCR chairperson also said that there was a need to involve the special juvenile police units at the district units and the juvenile/child welfare officers of the police stations informed and involved in all cases pertaining to missing children.

“There is also a need to update records more regularly. As per the national toll-free helpline, 52 per cent of the children reported missing were reunited with their parents/guardians, so there should be more clarity in the official records,” he said.

Giving out details about the missing children, Mr. Kanth said the maximum number of children were reported missing from areas where people from economically weaker sections reside.

“Of the 2,503 missing children, 540 are from North-East Delhi, 383 from East Delhi, 354 from West Delhi, 222 from North-West Delhi, 116 from Central Delhi, 32 from New Delhi, 70 from North Delhi and 289 from Outer Delhi. In Sangam Vihar alone, I am told more than 112 children have been reported missing,” he added.

Stating that evidence and perception about missing children being used in trafficking, flesh trade, begging rackets and even organ trade need further probing, he said: “A survey conducted recently by an organisation claimed that more than 700 children unaccompanied by their parents reached New Delhi railway station in just five days.”

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi