Child-Lifting Rumors Trigger Widespread Panic in Noida Villages
In Sarfabad, Guddi has made a drastic decision, quitting two cooking jobs to ensure she is home every afternoon when her six-year-old son returns from school. "Once children leave the school gate, the school authorities say that they are not responsible," she explained. "That scared many of us. We can't take chances." Her fear stems from unverified rumors swirling through village pockets across Noida, claiming girls are going missing and child lifters are on the prowl.
Police Dismiss Claims as Hoaxes, But Panic Persists
Senior police officers have told TOI that no complaints or verified reports of child abductions have been received. "These appear to be hoaxes, possibly triggered by misleading social media messages," an officer stated, urging residents to avoid spreading unverified information. Despite these assurances, fear has reshaped daily routines. Several women have quit jobs, men have altered work shifts, children are being kept home from school, and locals are organizing watches for suspected child lifters.
Another domestic staffer from Sarfabad, who works in a nearby high-rise society, echoed the sentiment: "We rush back every day to be with our children. Even if this turns out to be false, the fear is real." The rumors, similar to pre-Covid hysteria that led to lynchings and WhatsApp restrictions, were reportedly triggered by a social media post in January about missing girls in Delhi.
NGOs and Schools Report Significant Disruptions
Non-profits and educational institutions have observed a visible impact. Mala Bhandari, founder of a Noida-based NGO, noted that attendance dropped sharply in centers operating in Nagla, Tugalpur, and Haldoni. "Parents stopped sending children altogether," she said. "When our team did field visits, we found no incidents." Another NGO temporarily shut operations after hearing the rumor from children, citing plummeting attendance, though follow-ups revealed no actual victims.
Primary schools in nearby villages faced similar disruptions. A teacher in Harola reported attendance declines as rumors intensified, though no abduction cases were found. "Some absences were also for personal reasons, like family weddings," she added. In response, some schools have taken precautionary measures. Sunita, a teacher at a private village school, mentioned that management circulated consent forms for parents to pre-declare commuting details and authorized guardians. "Students are released only to authorized guardians," she said. "There are no such cases here that we know of, but awareness feels necessary."
Historical Context: Echoes of Past Mob Violence
A police officer highlighted that such episodes are not new, with similar rumors surfacing and being debunked in the past. The concern is that misinformation, especially when amplified online, can quickly disrupt community life and erode trust. This panic echoes 2018 and 2019, when India witnessed a spate of mob violence sparked by child-lifting suspicions, often fueled by viral WhatsApp messages.
According to data from the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, there were 41 reported incidents of mob violence in 2018 linked to such rumors, making child-lifting fears the leading trigger that year. Although the National Crime Records Bureau does not maintain comprehensive data on mob lynching, at least 20 people were killed in attacks during that period. This historical precedent underscores the potential dangers of unchecked rumors and the urgent need for verified information to prevent further harm and disruption in communities.
