| Of 7151 missing persons, over 4,100 still untraced in J&K | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 4: Jammu and Kashmir is grappling with a disturbing crisis as 4,190 people remain untraced despite intensive search efforts, according to shocking new data revealed in Parliament.
In a written reply to Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Singh Surjewala, Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar disclosed that the Union Territory reported a staggering 7,151 missing persons in 2023—the highest figure in four years—with children and women forming the bulk of disappearances.
The National Crime Records Bureau data paints a grim picture: while police successfully traced 2,961 individuals during the year, 4,190 cases remain unsolved, comprising both fresh disappearances and unresolved cases from previous years.
The most alarming trend involves missing children, whose numbers have surged relentlessly. From 627 cases in 2020, child disappearances jumped to 723 in 2021 and 821 in 2022, continuing at elevated levels through 2023. Girls constitute the majority among missing minors, raising serious concerns about trafficking and safety.
The recovery rate tells a troubling story. Of the 821 children who went missing in 2022, only 376 were found—leaving 445 still untraced. This pattern of incomplete recoveries has persisted year after year, creating a mounting backlog.
The missing persons crisis has intensified steadily. In the year 2020, 5,824 persons were reported missing, out of which only 2011 were traced. In the year 2021, 6486 missing cases were reported, and 2526 persons were traced. 6,983 were reported missing, and 3,136 were found.
In the year 2023, there were missing reports of 7151 persons, including those missing in the previous years. Out of these missing persons 4,190 are still untraced.
Women account for a significant share of adult disappearances, adding to concerns about the vulnerability of specific demographics.
The problem extends far beyond J&K. Nationally, missing persons reports have exploded from 6.70 lakh in 2020 to a shocking 8.68 lakh in 2023. Despite tracing over 4.60 lakh people last year, more than 4 lakh cases nationwide remained unsolved.
The minister emphasized that while law enforcement remains a state responsibility, the Centre provides crucial support through a 24-hour Child Helpline (1098), shelter homes under Mission Vatsalya and Mission Shakti, and victim compensation schemes through Legal Services Authorities.
Authorities are deploying house-to-house investigations, inter-agency coordination, and rehabilitation frameworks to tackle the crisis. However, the relentlessly rising numbers underscore the monumental challenge facing security agencies in protecting vulnerable populations and reuniting families torn apart by disappearances. |
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