Missing girls reports in Delhi were paid promotion: Police

Story by ANI | Posted by Vidushi Gaur | Date 06-02-2026

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New Delhi

Delhi Police on Friday dismissed claims of a surge in cases of missing girls in the national capital, stating that the narrative is being deliberately amplified through paid promotions to create panic.

In a post on X, the police said preliminary findings revealed that misinformation surrounding missing girls was being circulated for monetary gains, warning of strict action against those responsible.

“After tracking certain leads, it has come to light that the hype around missing girls in Delhi is being pushed through paid promotion. Creating fear for financial benefit will not be tolerated, and strict action will be taken against such individuals,” Delhi Police said.

Earlier, the police reassured citizens that there is no cause for alarm, particularly with regard to children. Delhi Police PRO Sanjay Tyagi said that data comparisons show no rise in missing-person cases and, in fact, a decline in January 2026 compared to the same period last year.

“There is no need to panic about missing persons, especially children. Compared to previous years, there has been no increase in such reports. January 2026 recorded fewer missing-person cases than January last year,” Tyagi said in a video released by the police.

He added that missing persons can be reported through local police stations, online platforms, or via ERSS 112, and that Delhi Police follows transparent crime-reporting practices. As per standard operating procedures, cases involving missing children are treated with priority, supported by district-level missing-person squads and the Crime Branch’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit.

Tyagi also clarified that no organised gangs have been found to be involved in missing children or kidnapping cases in the city.

According to official data released by Delhi Police, missing-person cases have remained largely stable over the past decade, averaging 23,000 to 24,000 cases annually since 2016. In January 2026, 1,777 cases were reported, compared to a monthly average of around 2,000 cases.

The data further shows that since 2016, 1,80,805 missing persons have been traced and reunited with their families, indicating a recovery rate of nearly 77 per cent.