The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that of the 12,000 to 14,000 missing person cases registered every year in Bihar since 2013, many of which are children, barely two-thirds of the missing children were recovered. Reportedly, the data of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) suggests that maximum cases of human trafficking have been registered in Odisha, Bihar, Telangana and Maharashtra. Odisha tops the list of maximum number of minor boys trafficking cases followed by Bihar. Reportedly, in trafficking of minor girls, Rajasthan has registered maximum cases. According to the media report, carried on 9th March 2026, it is suspected that these children are forced into begging, child labour, prostitution and other illegal activities.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise a serious issue of human rights violations of the victims. It has also taken note of the reported concerns that despite various measures taken by states, the number of missing persons is increasing and a few of them are traced. Therefore, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretaries and Director Generals of Police of Bihar, Odisha, Telangana, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks.

The report is expected to include the steps taken/ proposed to deal with the increasing number of missing persons, especially children. Further, the Commission has sought the latest statistical data from the NCRB on the status of missing persons in these states within two weeks.

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NSK

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