Mumbai Police have issued a public clarification after a series of alarming messages about missing children began circulating widely on social media platforms. In a post on X, the city police said these messages were misleading and not based on verified facts, warning that such forwards were creating unnecessary panic among parents and residents.
The police reassured citizens that every complaint related to a missing child is handled with seriousness, urgency and compassion, and that the force follows a strict protocol to ensure swift action in such cases.
Misleading Messages Trigger Unwarranted Fear
According to Mumbai Police, the viral messages suggest a surge in missing children cases and imply inaction by authorities. Officials said this narrative is incorrect and damages public trust. They stressed that misinformation spreads fear far quicker than facts, especially when it concerns the safety of children.
Police officials urged citizens to pause before forwarding such messages and to rely only on information released through official police handles and verified sources.
All Missing Minors Treated as Kidnapping Cases
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling in Bachpan Bachao Andolan versus Government of India, Mumbai Police register every case involving a missing minor as a kidnapping case. This legal framework ensures immediate investigation, senior level supervision and the use of all available resources from the very first hour.
Sharing data from the last five years, the police said that 98 percent of kidnapped children up to the age of 18 have been successfully traced and reunited with their families, reflecting the effectiveness of sustained and coordinated efforts.
Relentless Search and Multi Team Deployment
Mumbai Police emphasised that search operations do not end with the passage of time. Several teams, including local police units, crime branches and special cells, are deployed simultaneously to trace missing children and ensure prompt action.
A recent case highlighted by the police involved a four year old girl who had gone missing from Varanasi and was safely traced after six months by the MRA Marg police station in Mumbai. The child was reunited with her family, underlining the persistence of investigators even in long pending cases.
Appeal for Responsible Sharing
Reiterating that every child and every family matters, Mumbai Police appealed to citizens to act responsibly on social media. They urged people to refrain from spreading unverified information and to trust official updates, stressing that public cooperation plays a crucial role in protecting children and maintaining calm across the city.
