Maharashtra Missing Women & Children: 93,940 Cases Reported in 2024-25, 72% Found
In a stark revelation, Maharashtra has reported a total of 93,940 women missing across the state in the years 2024 and 2025. According to official data presented in the state assembly, 67,458 of these women, representing 72%, have been successfully located and recovered. The figures, provided by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio, highlight a critical issue in the region's law and order landscape.
Rising Numbers and Recovery Rates
The data indicates a concerning upward trend in missing persons cases. The number of women reported missing increased by 2,616, rising from 45,662 in 2024 to 48,278 in 2025. Similarly, for minor girls, the figures show a rise of 797 cases, from 11,316 in 2024 to 12,113 in 2025. However, the recovery rate for minor girls is notably higher at 80.1%, with 18,769 out of 23,429 reported missing being found during this period.
Detailed Breakdown by Gender and Region
In the Mumbai city police headquarters area, a total of 4,515 children were reported missing in 2024-25, with an impressive 98.6% recovery rate, as 4,455 were found. The data reveals a significant gender disparity, with girls accounting for almost twice as many cases as boys. Specifically, 1,435 boys and 3,080 girls were reported missing, of which 1,409 boys and 3,046 girls were recovered.
In the Navi Mumbai police headquarters area, 323 boys were reported missing in 2024 and 2025, with 313 found. For girls, 651 were reported missing, and 627 were located. Additionally, across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Raigad, Nagpur city, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, 4,989 adolescents aged 15 to 18 were reported missing, with 4,813, or over 96%, being found.
Operation Muskaan: A State Initiative
Chief Minister Fadnavis emphasized the state's ongoing efforts through Operation Muskaan, a dedicated initiative launched in July 2015 to search for missing children. As of December 2024, this operation has successfully traced 41,193 minor boys and girls. Currently, the 14th phase of Operation Muskaan is underway, and from January 20 to February 16, 2025, a total of 1,409 children were found, including 454 boys and 947 girls.
The written reply by Fadnavis in the state assembly on Tuesday underscores the government's commitment to addressing this pressing issue, while also shedding light on the challenges and successes in locating missing persons across Maharashtra.
