Delhi Police Exposes Paid Campaigns Amplifying False Narratives on Missing Children
NEW DELHI: Delhi Police has issued a stern warning against individuals and entities allegedly using paid promotions to amplify false claims of a sudden surge in missing girls and children in the capital. In a series of statements over the past 24 hours, the police force cautioned that strict legal action would be taken against those "creating panic for monetary gains" through rumor-driven narratives.
Police Rejects Rumors, Cites Official Data
On Thursday evening, Delhi Police appealed to citizens "not to fall victim to rumors of a sudden rise in cases of missing children," emphasizing that misrepresenting statistics to spread fear would lead to legal consequences. By Friday morning, the police escalated their response, revealing that investigations had uncovered the "hype" around missing girls was being actively pushed through paid promotional campaigns.
This police assertion is strongly supported by official data released on the same day, which indicates that missing-person cases in Delhi have remained largely stable over the past decade, with a marginal decline observed in recent months. According to the data, Delhi recorded a 2% drop in missing-person cases in 2025, a downward trend that has continued into early 2026.
Detailed Analysis of Missing-Person Statistics
In January 2026, Delhi reported 1,777 missing-person cases, which is lower than the 2025 monthly average of 2,042 and slightly below the 1,786 cases recorded in January 2024. Police officials highlighted that Delhi maintains a per-capita missing-person rate of 122.5 per 100,000 population, a figure they claim is lower than comparable rates in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Since 2016, a total of 180,805 missing persons have been successfully traced, reflecting a cumulative recovery rate of approximately 77%. Senior officers stressed that high reporting numbers should not be misinterpreted as an increase in long-term disappearances. They explained that Delhi follows a digital-first, transparent reporting system where even short-duration absences—such as a child delayed from school, a teenager temporarily unreachable due to connectivity issues, or precautionary complaints by anxious parents—are immediately recorded.
Many such cases are resolved within hours but remain on official records if families do not formally report the person's return. The pace of recovery has shown significant improvement over the years. In 2016, out of 23,409 reported missing persons, 20,029 were eventually traced, achieving an 85% recovery rate over nine years. In contrast, 2025 saw 24,508 missing-person reports, with 15,421 traced within the same calendar year, indicating a 63% recovery rate in a much shorter timeframe. Police officials expressed confidence that these figures will continue to improve as ongoing investigations conclude.
No Evidence of Organized Gangs, Priority Given to Children
Delhi Police Public Relations Officer Sanjay Tyagi reassured the public that there is "no need for fear or panic," particularly regarding children. He emphasized that missing children cases are prioritized under standard operating procedures, with dedicated district-level missing-person squads and the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Crime Branch working round the clock. Missing persons can be reported at police stations, online, or through the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112).
Importantly, Tyagi stated that no organized gangs have been found involved in missing children or kidnapping cases in the capital. "We appeal to people not to pay heed to rumors. Appropriate action will be taken against those spreading them," he declared in a video message.
Officers working on the ground provided insights into common scenarios. Senior Constable Monika of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit explained that younger children often go missing because they do not know their address or parents' contact details, while teenagers are sometimes lured by strangers or influenced by social media. "With technical surveillance and CCTV analysis, we trace such children," she noted.
Head Constable Seema Tyagi added that academic pressure, family disputes, and personal issues are common triggers among teenagers. "Many provide false details after leaving home. Sometimes families hesitate to report immediately due to fear of social stigma," she observed.
Political Context and Clarifications
The police clarification comes amid a political controversy after former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal raised concerns over safety, citing reports of 807 missing persons in the first 15 days of 2026. Kejriwal posted on X, "In Delhi, 807 people have gone missing in just 15 days, most of them women and children. These circumstances are extremely frightening," questioning law and order under BJP rule.
Delhi Police, however, maintained that such figures, when viewed without proper context, can be misleading. A senior officer reiterated, "Transparent and accessible reporting often leads to higher immediate numbers, but that reflects responsiveness—not a breakdown of safety." The police emphasized that panic-driven narratives, especially those promoted through paid campaigns, would not be tolerated, and they remain committed to maintaining public trust through factual transparency and rigorous enforcement.
