Since 2020, a total of 506 children have gone missing in Ludhiana, according to an RTI response obtained by activist Rohit Sabharwal. The data, provided by the Ludhiana Police Commissionerate, shows that 294 of these children have been recovered, while 212 remain untraced. Additionally, 62 children were kidnapped during the same period, of whom 58 were rescued and four are still missing.
RTI reveals recovery gaps
The RTI reply, covering the period from 2020 to 2026, indicates that the police have not been able to locate 41.9% of the missing children over six and a half years. In contrast, 94% of kidnapped children have been recovered, a figure that activist Rohit Sabharwal described as a sign of police efficiency in abduction cases. “The police acted smart and 94 per cent kidnapped children were already recovered,” Sabharwal said, while noting the gap in tracing missing children.
Year-wise breakdown of missing children
The RTI data provides a year-wise account of missing children in Ludhiana. In 2025, the highest number of 149 children went missing; 120 were found, and 29 remain untraced. In 2024, 74 children went missing, with 35 still unaccounted for. In 2023, 52 children went missing, of whom 38 remain missing. In 2022, 69 children were reported missing, and 24 are still untraced. In 2021, 81 children went missing, with 33 still missing. In 2020, 52 children went missing, and 28 remain unaccounted for.
Kidnapping cases and recovery
Of the 62 kidnapping cases reported since 2020, 58 children have been recovered, leaving four cases unresolved. The RTI did not specify the ages or genders of the missing children, but the data underscores ongoing concerns about child safety in the city. The Chairperson of the Punjab State Commission for Women had previously sought a report from the Ludhiana police regarding 11 missing girls in May. Although the police submitted a report, the commission requested a revised version. Of those 11 girls, four were recovered, and investigations revealed they had left home voluntarily rather than being abducted.
Activist highlights concerns
Rohit Sabharwal, the RTI activist who filed the application, emphasized the need for better policing and community awareness to address the issue. The data, he noted, shows that while kidnapping cases see high resolution rates, the larger number of missing children—often runaways or victims of trafficking—remains a challenge. The police have not commented on the RTI findings.
