Delhi Police dismisses reports of surge in missing girls, says hype driven by paid promotions

The Delhi Police on Friday dismissed speculations about a surge in missing girls in the national capital, stating that such claims are being amplified through paid promotions on social media platforms.

The police warned that strict action would be taken against those spreading misinformation for monetary gains.

In a post on X, Delhi Police said, “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.”

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.

— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) February 6, 2026

Earlier, the police had assured the public that there was no reason for fear or panic, particularly regarding children, amid reports circulating about missing persons in the city.

Addressing the issue on Thursday, Delhi Police PRO Sanjay Tyagi said that there had been no increase in missing-person cases compared to previous years. He noted that January 2026 recorded fewer such cases than the same period last year.

“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 through online platforms or by calling ERSS 112. Under standard operating procedures (SOPs), the police prioritise tracing missing children and respond promptly. Dedicated missing person squads in each district, along with the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Crime Branch, are tasked with ensuring effective action.

Tyagi also emphasised that no organised gangs have been found to be involved in cases of missing children or kidnappings.

On Thursday, Delhi Police released official data showing a decline in missing-person cases in January 2026 compared to the previous year. According to the data, the number of missing persons in Delhi has remained largely stable over the past decade, ranging between 23,000 and 24,000 cases annually since 2016, despite the city’s growing population.

In January 2026, a total of 1,777 missing cases were recorded, compared with an average of around 2,000 cases per month in the national capital.

The data further showed that since 2016, Delhi Police has traced and reunited 1,80,805 missing persons with their families, reflecting a recovery rate of about 77 per cent.