The Delhi Police on Friday debunked all speculations surrounding the alarmingly high numbers of persons gone missing in Delhi in January this year, claiming the reports to have been “pushed through paid promotions”.
Warning of strict action against those responsible for spreading such rumours, the Capital city’s police said “creating panic for monetary gains won’t be tolerated”.
In a post on X, the Delhi Police wrote on Friday: “After following a few leads, we discovered that the hype around the surge in missing girls in Delhi is being pushed through paid promotion. Creating panic for monetary gains won’t be tolerated, and we’ll take strict action against such individuals.”
Earlier, on Thursday, the UT Police had assured the public that there is no need for fear or panic, particularly regarding children, amid rising reports of missing persons in the national capital.
Recent official data from early 2026 highlighted a high volume of missing persons reports in Delhi. In the first 15 days of 2026, a total of 807 people were reported missing, averaging approximately 54 people per day.
However, Delhi Police PRO, Sanjay Tyagi, on Thursday said that, compared with previous years, there has been no increase in missing-person reports in the city. In fact, January 2026 saw fewer such cases than in the same period last year.
He said the data indicates that the number of people reported missing in Delhi has remained largely stable over the past decade, with annual figures ranging between 23,000 and 24,000 since 2016, despite the city’s growing population. In January 2026, 1,777 missing cases were recorded, compared with an average of approximately 2,000 per month in the national capital.
Delhi Police data also shows that since 2016, a total of 1,80,805 missing persons have been traced and reunited reflecting a recovery rate of about 77 per cent.
“There is no need to fear or panic regarding the missing persons in Delhi, especially children. Compared to the past, there has been no increase in reporting missing persons in Delhi. In January 2026, compared to the same period last year, there has been a drop in reporting missing persons. It is also worth mentioning that Delhi Police follows the policy of fair and transparent reporting of crime,” Tyagi said in a video released by Delhi Police.
He added that missing persons can be reported not only at local police stations, but also online or via ERSS 112. Under standard operating procedures (SOPs), Delhi Police prioritises locating missing children and acts promptly. Dedicated missing person squads in districts, along with the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit in the Crime Branch, ensure effective action.
Tyagi emphasised that no organised gangs have been found involved in cases of missing children or kidnappings.
Also Read: Delhi grappling with safety concern, 800 disappear in 15 days
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