New Delhi, March 22nd, 2011

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports alleging that a total of 17305 children went missing from 2008 to 2010 in Delhi, out of which 2366 children are yet to be traced. According to the reports, this information was given by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr. Guru Das Kamath in reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

The Commission also considered media reports alleging organized crime behind missing children. According to reports, the Central Bureau of Investigation, CBI, had unearthed a nexus of organized crime with identification of over 800 gangs engaged in child trafficking. The involvement of gangs in abduction of children came on record when the CBI told the Delhi High Court in 2006 that there were 815 gangs comprising 4289 members involved in the kidnapping of children for prostitution, begging and ransom in India. The report further alleged that over 60,000 children were missing in India in the year 2009.

The Commission observed in its proceedings today on the 22nd March, 2011 that the contents of media reports, if true, raise serious issue of violation of human rights of children and negligence on the part of the State to provide protection to them.

The Commission has issued notices to the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India and the Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi calling for their detailed reports in the matter within four weeks.

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