Mumbai on High Alert After 12 Minors Go Missing in Just 36 Hours
Mumbai, 2nd February 2026: A sudden surge in child disappearance cases has put Mumbai’s law enforcement on high alert after 12 minors, eight of them girls, were reported missing within a span of just 36 hours. The cases, registered across seven police jurisdictions, have triggered fears of a possible organised network targeting children.
Police officials said the pattern of complaints suggests the incidents may not be isolated. In response, Mumbai Police have launched a coordinated, multi-zone search operation involving special teams.
Search Intensified Across Public Spaces
Teams have been deployed at railway stations, bus depots, marketplaces, hospitals, public gardens, and child care institutions. Photographs of the missing children are being widely circulated, and surveillance systems are being closely monitored.
Cases have been registered under Section 137(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against unidentified persons, based on complaints lodged by parents. While no ransom calls have been received so far, investigators are not ruling out the possibility of human trafficking.
The missing children were reported from the following areas:
Shivaji Nagar – 4
Sakinaka – 2
Antop Hill – 2
Oshiwara – 1
Mankhurd – 1
Bangur Nagar – 1
Ghatkopar – 1
Officials said inter-district coordination, CCTV analysis, and local intelligence inputs are being used to track movements and identify leads.
The recent spike comes against the backdrop of a broader rise in missing minor cases in Mumbai over the past several months.
Between June and December, 145 minors were reported missing in the city, including 93 girls. A particularly sharp rise was observed between November 1 and December 6, when 82 children went missing.
Month-Wise Data (2025)
June: 26 girls
July: 25 children (15 boys, 10 girls)
August: 19 children (5 boys, 14 girls)
September: 21 children (6 boys, 15 girls)
October: 19 children (12 boys, 7 girls)
November: 24 children (9 boys, 15 girls)
December: 11 children (5 boys, 6 girls)
Mumbai Police have urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and to immediately report any suspicious activity or information related to missing children. Officials said all available resources are being mobilised, and the safety of minors remains the top priority.
