13 July,2017 11:15 AM IST | Mumbai | Santosh Wagh
Datta Padsalgikar instructs Crime Branch to look for 263 minors who have been untraceable since 2016
Mumbai police commissioner Datta Padsalgikar has decided to put his best men to look for kidnapped minor girls who haven't returned home since they went missing in 2016. In a meeting last week, the top cop asked all Crime Branch units across the city to put their efforts into tracing and bringing back 263 minors, who have been kidnapped or have run away from their homes from 2016 till date.
"We always keep track of such cases; it's a part of our job. Since we have been asked to put some more efforts in tracing these girls, we will surely do it," said Sanjay Saxena, joint commissioner of police (crime).
Majority untraceable
According to data from the Mumbai Police, seven to eight girls go missing from Mumbai everyday. While some are rescued, a majority remain untraceable even after months. Among the 263 missing girls, central Mumbai has the highest number.
Seeing the number of missing girls surging, Padsalgikar asked the Crime Branch to pay attention to such cases too and rescue the girls. "The commissioner is worried about the number of missing girls in the city. That is why he has asked the Crime Branch to put some effort behind such cases," said a senior police officer.
Not necessarily abducted
All 12 Crime Branch units across the city have been informed about the number of missing girls in their jurisdiction and asked to trace them. "Kidnapping cases filed in police station aren't necessarily abductions. Sometimes minor girls elope with their lover, but according to the law, we have to register a kidnapping case," said an officer, adding, "So even if this eloped girl comes back, she will be produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) that will decide where to send them."
According to the data, the maximum number of missing girls is from Zone 4, with 60 of the 262 minors belonging to it. Antop Hill, Sion, Matunga are some of the areas under Zone 4.
"From these 60 girls, most are between 14 to 18 years old. Zone 6 follows this zone, with 55 reported cases of kidnapping till date. Chunabhatti, Chembur, Govandi are some of the areas under this zone. Zone 11 and 12 - which has a majority of slum areas - also contributes to a number of these cases," said another senior officer. "We have started tracing these girls. The cases that we have analysed till now are of girls who have eloped with their lovers or a known person," said a crime branch official.
