[Our Correspondent Yogesh Patel (Crime Reporter) Edit by Devansh Desai Mumbai Samachar Desk]
Mumbai: The glittering facade of India’s financial capital conceals a disturbing reality an alarming surge in missing minor girls that has sent shockwaves through law enforcement circles. Police data reveals a grim statistic: four to five girls disappear from Mumbai every single day, with October 2025 recording the highest monthly count of 136 kidnapping cases involving minors.
Between January and October 2025, Mumbai police stations registered 1,187 cases of minor girls going missing an average that translates to nearly five disappearances daily. The crisis has extended beyond state borders, with trafficking networks transporting abducted girls to Gujarat and Rajasthan for forced marriages, according to police investigations.
Senior police officials confirmed that every missing minor girl case is immediately classified as kidnapping and registered accordingly. National Crime Records Bureau data indicates a 30 percent spike in such cases between 2021 and 2024, pointing to organized criminal activity rather than isolated incidents.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray raised serious concerns about the government’s response to this crisis. “Interstate gangs systematically abduct children, forcing them into labor and begging. These criminal networks operate regularly, yet the government’s action plan remains unclear,” he stated.
Thackeray questioned the gap between reported and unreported cases, asking how many complaints actually reach police stations and what support systems exist for rescued children dealing with trauma. He challenged authorities on the lack of investigation into children begging at railway stations, bus stands, and streets across the city.
“Are these children with their biological parents? Why doesn’t the government conduct DNA tests or proper verification?” Thackeray asked, highlighting potential exploitation by organized begging rackets.
The MNS chief criticized both ruling and opposition parties for failing to prioritize the issue during the winter legislative session. “Maharashtra is witnessing child abductions, girl trafficking, and land seizures yet these critical matters find no space in assembly discussions. Ministers are often absent during sessions meant for accountability,” he said.
Thackeray called for urgent intervention from the central government, urging the formation of an inter-state task force to combat child trafficking networks. “The central government must coordinate with all states and establish a dedicated working group. As Chief Minister and Home Minister, Maharashtra expects concrete action, not just parliamentary rhetoric,” he concluded.
Child rights activists echo these concerns, emphasizing the need for strengthened protection mechanisms, faster case resolution, and inter-state coordination to dismantle trafficking networks operating across state boundaries.
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