Delhi Police Data Shocker: 807 Missing in Early Jan, NHRC Intervenes—235 Located, Rest in Limbo
(By Syed Ali Taher Abedi)
Delhi, 9, February,2026- The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken Suo motu cognizance of alarming Delhi Police data revealing that as many as 807 persons went missing in the national capital within just the first two weeks of January 2026, triggering serious human rights concerns.
Acting on a media report highlighting the gravity of the situation, the Commission noted that the missing includes 191 minors and 616 adults, underscoring the scale and vulnerability involved.
While the Delhi Police have managed to trace only 235 individuals, a staggering 572 persons continue to remain untraced, raising pressing questions about public safety, institutional response, and protection mechanisms.
Taking strong note of the matter, the NHRC has issued formal notices to the Chief Secretary of Delhi and the Commissioner of Police, seeking a comprehensive, time-bound report within two weeks on the circumstances, preventive measures, investigation status, and remedial steps taken to address the crisis of missing persons in the capital.
The Commission has taken serious note of the disturbing revelations in the media report, observing that the facts disclosed, if found to be true, raise grave and systemic concerns of human rights violations.
In response, it has issued formal notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi, and the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, directing them to submit a detailed and comprehensive report within two weeks, outlining the status of investigations, preventive mechanisms, and institutional safeguards in place.
According to the media report dated 5 February 2026, Delhi witnessed an alarming 24,508 missing persons cases in 2025 alone, with nearly 60 per cent of the victims being women, exposing a deeply troubling gendered dimension to the crisis.
While the police were able to trace 15,421 individuals, a significant 9,087 cases remain unresolved, casting a shadow over the effectiveness of tracing and protection mechanisms.
The data further underscores the acute vulnerability of adolescents, revealing that over 5,000 teenagers have gone missing every year since 2016, including approximately 3,500 girls annually, highlighting a persistent and escalating risk to young lives in the national capital.
