Unsettling Missing Numbers Of Women And Girls Unveils The Grim Reality Of Safety And Security In India

Ministry of Home Affairs recently presented data compiled by NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) recently at the Rajya Sabha that stated over 13 lakh girls and women went missing in India between 2019 and 2021.

girls women missing reports in india

When I first came across the report citing the number of girls and women who went missing in India between 2019 and 2021, I was disturbed to bits. The data presented by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in the Rajya Sabha stated that over 13.13 lakh girls and women went missing in the country during this time.

According to the data compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau, the maximum number of cases were reported in Madhya Pradesh, followed by West Bengal. 1,60,180 in Madhya Pradesh and 1,56,905 women in West Bengal went missing over two years. In the national capital, 61,054 women and 22,919 girls went missing between 2019 and 2021.

The MHA told the parliament that many initiatives for the safety of women across the country have been introduced. These initiatives include the passing of The Criminal Law (Amendment), Act, 2018 against sexual offences.

The Curious Case Of India's Missing Daughters

Every year a new report stating the numbers of girls and women in the country surface and unfortunately over the years are only on the rise. In the year 2018, the number of missing cases registered in Madhya Pradesh was 29761. While in some cases girls and women return soon after, in many others, there is no closure. In the latter, for months or even years, families are unable to discover the cause of their daughter's disappearance.

india missing daughterws

Murder, suicide, accidental death, and human trafficking are some possible tragic causes behind the missing cases. According to a report by NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) states, "It is a regular occurrence for any police organization to deal with a report of a missing person. Some persons will have gone missing to avoid abuse or violence. Others may be missing due to an accident. A percentage of the total number of people who go missing will have been the victims of serious crime." (Report link - https://ncrb.gov.in/sites/default/files/missingpage-merged.pdf)

What Happens When You File A Missing Person's Report?

We spoke to criminal lawyer Shikhani Shah Engineer and asked her what is the process of filing a missing person's report in the country to understand whether it was the complaint filing process that led to investigation delays. She said, "Intimate the Police and let the personnel know about the missing person. File a case and follow the formal procedure as soon you discover that the person is missing. However, this method of finding a missing person can take up to several days and even months in some cases."\

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After the case is filed, the police start investigating. The process usually involves checking the last call data recordings, seeing where the person was spotted last, and getting their pictures circulated.

What Can You Do If The Police Are Unable To Find The Missing Person?

Investigating a case isn't a single-day task. It can take days and even years, especially in case of missing reports. Delays in process are quite common and no wonder most missing cases continue to be pending today. "File a writ petition for Mandamus against police inaction so the police submit the court status report. However, habeas corpus should be filed once you know that the person is wrongfully detained under a certain person."

Advocate Shikhani Shah Engineer shared that people can use the writ power to highlight the police pendency which can be done by filing a writ. Writ is an order issued in the name of the court that further commands the police to perform an act as specified by the judges or courts.

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"You can hire a private agency, they help in searching the missing person, since police machinery has a lot of cases and there isn't clarity on how long it can take for them to solve the case. Also, approach the High Court and file a writ petition wherein the court gives directions to the police to help find the missing person," said the legal expert.

Is There A Glimmer Of Hope?

The data is disturbing. Girls and women continue to be missing and in the majority of cases, the families are uncertain of the cause. It could be a case of suicide, homicide, human trafficking, natural death, or any other brutal act of crime. Not knowing the actual root is even more haunting for families.

Unfortunately, the rising number of missing cases highlights the plight of women and girls in India. The safety and security of women is a distant dream. Sexual harassment, acid attacks, domestic violence, cruelty for dowry, and abduction among others continue to be prevalent crimes against women in the country and they just don't seem to die down.

crimes against women in india

"There is no proper implementation of laws. Even though there are numerous laws to deal with the crimes against women in society, the number of crimes is rising at an alarming rate and the scale of crime continues to go up each time. Lack of proper implementation of laws is one of the main factors responsible for these crimes," said legal expert Shikhani Shah Engineer on the rising number of crimes against women in the country.

Reports like the one presented by MHA making national news each day, hound me for days. Being the mother of a girl, I am constantly worrying about the safety of my little one. India is the most unsafe place for girls and women to be and the rising number of crimes serve as proof of it. No wonder Indian parents don't want a girl child. The safety of girls in the country is a serious concern and there seems to be no silver lining.

Despite laws being in place, the judicial delay denies justice to victims of brutal crimes. Perpetrators roam freely, women and girls live a life in shame and fear, and the future seems dark and disordered. What's your take on the startling missing cases in the country? Share your thoughts with us on our social media handles.

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