Srinagar: Over 5,400 children were reported missing in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh between 2016 and 2022, with over 1,500 still untraced, reveals data.
In 2016, 1,070 children went missing, including 589 boys and 481 girls. Of these, 766 cases were carried over from previous years, while 304 children—166 boys and 138 girls—went missing that year.
In the same year, 354 missing children were traced, including 164 boys and 190 girls. However, 716 children—425 boys and 291 girls—remained untraced.
In 2017, a total of 725 children were reported missing, including 431 boys and 294 girls. Of these, 614 cases—379 boys and 235 girls—were carried over from previous years, while 111 children—52 boys and 59 girls—went missing that year. In the same year, a total of 219 missing children were traced, including 141 boys and 78 girls. However, 506 children—290 boys and 216 girls—remained untraced.
In 2018, a total of 800 children were reported missing, including 384 boys and 416 girls. Of these, 506 cases—290 boys and 216 girls—were carried over from previous years, while 294 children—94 boys and 200 girls—went missing that year. A total of 416 missing children were traced, including 181 boys and 235 girls. However, 384 children—203 boys and 181 girls—remained untraced.
In 2019, a total of 661 children were reported missing, including 306 boys and 355 girls. Of these, 384 cases—203 boys and 181 girls—were carried over from previous years, while 277 children—103 boys and 174 girls—went missing that year. A total of 260 missing children were traced in Jammu & Kashmir, including 91 boys and 169 girls, while 401 children—215 boys and 186 girls—remained untraced.
In 2020, a total of 627 children were reported missing, including 277 boys and 350 girls. Of these, 397 cases—214 boys and 183 girls—were carried over from previous years, while 230 children—63 boys and 167 girls—went missing that year. Also, Ladakh recorded five missing children, including one boy and four girls.
In the same year, a total of 183 missing children were traced, including 61 boys and 122 girls. However, 444 children—216 boys and 228 girls—remained untraced. In Ladakh, out of five missing children, one was traced, while four (one boy and three girls) remained untraced.
In 2021, a total of 723 children were reported missing, including 280 boys and 443 girls. Of these, 444 cases—216 boys and 228 girls—were carried over from previous years, while 279 children—64 boys and 215 girls—went missing that year. Ladakh recorded four missing children, with no new cases reported in 2021.
In the same year, a total of 240 missing children were traced, including 52 boys and 188 girls. However, 483 children—228 boys and 255 girls—remained untraced. In Ladakh, out of the four missing children, three were traced, while one girl remained untraced.
In 2022, a total of 821 children were reported missing, including 319 boys and 502 girls. Of these, 483 cases—228 boys and 255 girls—were carried over from previous years, while 338 children—91 boys and 247 girls—went missing that year. Ladakh recorded one missing child, who remained untraced.
In 2022, a total of 376 missing children were traced, including 101 boys and 275 girls. However, 445 children—218 boys and 227 girls—remained untraced. Ladakh recorded one missing child, who remained untraced. (KNO)
