Delhi Police Debunks Viral Missing Persons Panic, Reveals Stable Data Trends
If you have been scrolling through social media over the past week, you have likely encountered alarming reels with red text, ominous music, and a voice warning that Delhi is slipping into danger. The message claims that over 800 people went missing in the first 15 days of the year, sparking widespread panic, paranoia, and relentless sharing across platforms. This melodrama did not originate in Delhi; it first surfaced in Mumbai, where similar content caused alarm before police clarifications. However, like most viral fears, it traveled north, morphing and magnifying until it reached the capital.
Police Data Contradicts Social Media Hysteria
According to official police figures, Delhi recorded a 2% drop in missing persons cases in 2025, a trend that has continued into early 2026. In January 2026, 1,777 missing-person reports were registered—lower than the monthly average of 2,042 in 2025 and slightly below the 1,786 cases recorded in January 2024. Police officials emphasize that these numbers contradict social media claims of an "abnormal spike," particularly involving women and children.
Stable Numbers and Faster Recoveries Highlight Progress
Data released by Delhi Police shows that the number of people reported missing annually has remained largely stable between 23,000 and 24,000 since 2016, despite the city's growing population. Since 2016, 180,805 missing persons have been traced and reunited with their families, reflecting a cumulative recovery rate of around 77%. Officials note that recovery is a continuous process, with recent-year percentages improving as investigations mature.
For instance, in 2016, 23,409 people were reported missing, and 20,029 were eventually traced—an 85% recovery achieved over nearly nine years of follow-up. In contrast, recoveries in recent years are happening much faster. In 2025 alone, of the 24,508 people reported missing, 15,421 were traced within the same calendar year, translating to a 63% recovery rate in a fraction of the historical time.
Why Reporting Appears Higher in Delhi
Senior officers explain that Delhi's numbers seem higher than other cities due to its digital-first, zero-delay reporting system. This system allows missing-person complaints to be filed instantly through police stations, mobile apps, online portals, and ERSS-112. "This means even short-duration absences are immediately recorded—children delayed from school, teenagers unreachable due to phone issues, or precautionary complaints by anxious families," a senior officer said. "Many are traced within hours, but remain in records unless families formally report their return."
Delhi Police claims that, on a per-capita basis, the city maintains a missing-person rate of 122.5 per 100,000 population, which is lower than comparable figures in the UK and the US, and better than cities such as London and New York.
Data Insights on Children and Women
As of January 26, 2026, police data shows 807 missing persons, including 509 women and 298 men. Officials stress that the majority of children who go missing are recovered, often within days. Senior Constable Monika of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) noted that many recovered children had left home willingly. "Younger children often cannot recall their address or parents' details. Teenagers are sometimes lured by strangers, occasionally under the pretext of marriage," she said, adding that technical surveillance and CCTV analysis play a key role in tracing them.
Sources indicate that teenage runaways are frequently driven by academic pressure, personal conflicts, or social media influence, and often provide false identities to avoid detection.
Rumors, Paid Promotions, and Police Warnings
Amid viral posts claiming a surge in missing girls, Delhi Police stated on Friday that the scare was being amplified through paid promotions on social media. "Creating panic for monetary gains won't be tolerated, and strict action will be taken," police said in a post on X. Delhi Police PRO Sanjay Tyagi emphasized there was "no need for fear or panic, especially regarding children," noting that January 2026 had seen fewer missing-person reports than the same period last year.
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya also commented, sharing a video on X and claiming that the assertion about many children missing from Delhi was being pushed through a paid campaign linked to a Hindi film promotion. "The Delhi Police will obviously follow this up to its logical conclusion," Malviya wrote.
The concern extends beyond Delhi. Four days ago, Mumbai Police issued a public warning, stating that certain social media handles were misrepresenting data and indulging in rumour-mongering about missing and kidnapped children. "We categorically deny these claims," Mumbai Police said, adding that action, including FIR registrations, is underway against those spreading false information.
Police Protocols and Political Reactions
Police underline that every missing child below 18 years is treated as a kidnapping case, ensuring immediate and intensive investigation. Dedicated missing-person squads function in all districts, supported by the Crime Branch's AHTU and initiatives like 'Operation Talash', launched in 2022 to trace missing persons. Addressing fears of organised kidnapping networks, Delhi Police PRO Sanjay Tyagi said no such gangs had been found operating in missing children cases.
Despite police assurances, political reactions intensified. AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal questioned safety in the capital, citing 807 missing persons in the first 15 days of 2026. "These circumstances are not normal; they are extremely frightening," he said, blaming the BJP-led administration. Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav wrote to Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena, seeking a special task force to probe missing children cases.
Responding to criticism, Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) Devesh Chandra Srivastava stated, "The number of cases reported so far this year is actually less compared with previous years. Higher reporting reflects easier access, not rising crime."
The Bottom Line: Trust in the System
Delhi Police maintains that while every missing-person case—especially involving children—is treated with urgency, the data does not support claims of a kidnapping wave. Officials argue that higher visibility, easier reporting, and legal obligations have inflated headline numbers, even as recovery rates improve and long-term trends remain stable. "High reporting does not mean high danger," a senior officer concluded. "It means people trust the system enough to report—and that gives us a better chance to bring them home."
