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Delhi is the 'missing kids' capital of India as 14 children a day go untraced in the city

Figures reveal more than 5,100 youngsters went missing last year

Published: 13:31 EST, 28 April 2012 | Updated: 13:31 EST, 28 April 2012

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Delhi dangerous - not only for a woman returning alone from a night shift, as the euphemism goes, but more so for children.

As many as 14 kids go missing in the Capital daily, which is an alarming eight per cent of the national total for such cases.

Released for the first time and disclosed in Parliament, the Union home ministry's data says 5,111 children disappeared from the city last year.

Disturbing statistics: As many as 1,146 children had already gone missing in Delhi up until April 15 this year (file photo)

There's no end to the disappearing acts as 1,146 children have already gone missing up until April 15 this year.

It's another first that the government's figures are three times higher than the 1,575 missing children for 2011 that the Bachpan Bachao Andolan, a non-government organisation, claimed earlier this month.

It's not hard to gauge the gravity of the situation because the ministry's figures make another horrifying revelation - there is no trace of 1,359 of the 5,111 missing children in 2011.

Given the ghosts of Nithari still lurking in its backyard, there were fears of another incident of similar sadistic killings when the residents of Delhi's Madanpur Khadar complained that 33 children from their area have gone missing over the past year.

Revelation: Figures disclosed for the first time show that last year 5,111 children disappeared from the city (pictured)

Detectives haven't, however, found any evidence to link the Madanpur Khadar incidents with a Nithari-type situation.

The ministry has asked the police commissioners in metro cities to personally review every case of a missing child and take stringent action.

'It requires concerted attention of the central and state governments.

'As missing children are exposed to high-risk situations, they are vulnerable and fall prey to exploitation, abuse and human trafficking,' B. Bhamathi, additional secretary in the ministry, wrote in his letter to the chief secretaries and state DGPs.

'Whether these missing children land in begging rings, prostitution, paedophilic nets and organ trade or end up getting exported for camel jockeying, it is always an organised crime.

'The commissioners and superintendents of police should review each case and find out the reasons behind each disappearance,' the letter said.

Giving a 34-point advisory on how to handle such cases, the letter added: 'When any heinous or organised crime relating to missing children is reported, the investigation should be taken over by the state CID.'

The ministry has asked the BSF and SSB to be alert on border outposts to detect trafficking of children.