Increase in abduction of adolescent girls

In a concerning trend, the Navi Mumbai Police Commissionerate has reported the kidnapping of 1545 minors over the past five years, with a noticeable surge in cases involving adolescent girls. While commendable efforts by the police have led to the successful recovery of 1470 minors, the escalating incidents of abductions, particularly targeting girls, have raised serious concerns among law enforcement and the community.

From 2019 to November 2023, a total of 1545 minors, comprising both boys and girls, fell victim to abductions within the jurisdiction of Navi Mumbai Police Commissionerate. Shockingly, 1137 of these victims were girls. Despite the police managing to trace and recover 1470 minors, the remaining cases, especially those involving girls, continue to pose a challenge.

The age group most affected by these abductions ranges from 14 to 17, with investigations revealing that many of the abducted girls were victims of love affairs and forced marriages. Disturbingly, a significant number of these girls were found to have entered into marriages stemming from these relationships.

In addition to the surge in abductions of girls, the report highlights an increase in cases involving missing boys, with 408 incidents reported in the last five years. Fortunately, the Anti-Human Trafficking Cell, in collaboration with local police, successfully traced 387 missing boys and reunited them with their families.

The Anti- Human Trafficking Unit, facing challenges in locating minors living abroad, acknowledges the difficulty in tracking down the whereabouts of these abducted boys and girls. The absence of information about minors in foreign countries remains a significant hurdle for law enforcement.

Over the past 4-5 years, the Anti-Human Trafficking Cell has identified over 100 abduction dens in various police stations, facilitating the recovery of abducted children. However, the lack of a dedicated counselling system for the victims places an additional burden on the police, who find themselves providing emotional support to the rescued boys and girls.

Atul Aher, Senior Police Inspector of the Anti-Human Trafficking Cell, emphasizes the need for parents to communicate with their children and provide counselling, especially in cases where minors are leaving home due to love affairs.