Over 60 went missing each day in Delhi, including 16 children: Data

The NHRC has issued notices to Delhi authorities as data reveals over 60 people, including 16 children, go missing daily in the capital. More than 20,000 persons (including close to 6,000 children) were reported missing in Delhi each year in the 2017-2023 period with the exception of 2020.

The National Human Rights Commission on Monday issued notices to the Delhi government, Chief Secretary, Commissioner of Police seeking a detailed report on missing person complaints registered this year. 

The Commission’s action comes in response to the recently released missing person figures which showed that over 800 persons went missing in the national capital in the first 15 days of January this year. 

While the Delhi Police stated last Thursday that there is “no cause for panic or fear” as the figures actually reflected a decline compared to the same period in previous years, the NHRC observed that if these reports were true, it raised serious issues of violation of human rights. 

While the recent figures have grabbed headlines, data points to a deeper crisis in the national capital: a mounting number of missing and unrecovered persons, with figures now rivaling those of the largest States in the country.

On average, Delhi accounted for almost 8% of all missing person cases in the country between 2017-2023 period. When it came to cases of missing children, Delhi accounted for 10% of all such cases in the country in the period.  

As per the data in NCRB, more than 20,000 persons (including close to 6,000 children) were reported missing in Delhi each year in the 2017-2023 period with the exception of 2020. That translates to an average of 62 persons (of which 16 are children) reported missing every day in the 2017-2023 period.