Delhi Missing Persons Panic Fueled Via Paid Promotions? What Police Say

Social media was flooded this week with unverified posts claiming a sudden spike in missing persons cases in Delhi, triggering widespread concern. The Delhi Police have urged residents not to panic over recent missing persons figures, stating that the data does not indicate any unusual spike and remains broadly consistent with trends from the past few years.

Between January 1 and 15, 2026, at least 807 people were reported missing across the national capital - an average of 54 a day. Officials said these numbers may seem high in isolation, but they are "in line with those of previous years."

हम यह स्पष्ट करना चाहते है कि गुमशुदगी, विशेषकर बच्चों के लापता होनें को लेकर फैलायी जा रही अफवाहों से घबराने की कोई आवश्यकता नहीं है।

विगत वर्षों की तुलना में गुमशुदगी के मामलों में वृद्धि नहीं हुई है।

दिल्ली पुलिस त्वरित जांच व कार्रवाई के साथ नागरिकों की सुरक्षा के लिए… pic.twitter.com/WjV1MCoTEM

— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) February 5, 2026

January totals reflect the same pattern. As many as 1,684 people went missing in January 2024, 1,786 in 2025, and 1,777 this year, showing little change year on year.

Children’s cases largely steady

Of the total, 430 children were reported missing this January, slightly lower than 436 last year. Most cases fall in the 12–18 age group, which accounted for 383 children this year, close to 386 in 2024 and 392 in 2025.

Police said many of these involve teenage girls and are often linked to elopement, relationships, or adolescents leaving home after arguments over personal issues such as phones or gadgets.

Such cases can take longer to resolve since every missing minor is treated as a kidnapping case, requiring formal legal procedures even in consensual situations.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Central Range) Madhur Verma said children in the 0–8 age group are given the highest priority due to the risk of trafficking and illegal adoption. 

In this group, 32 children went missing in January 2024, 18 in 2025, and 17 this year. Twelve remain untraced so far.

Alleged Paid Promotion

As media reports of missing persons cases caused alarm among residents, the police claimed that the perception of a “surge” in missing persons cases was being amplified through paid promotions on social media.

Officials said they traced several posts amplifying claims of a surge in missing girls to paid social media promotions. In a post on X, the police said, "Creating panic for monetary gains won't be tolerated, and we'll take strict action against such individuals."

After following a few leads, we discovered that the hype around the surge in missing girls in Delhi is being pushed through paid promotion. Creating panic for monetary gains won't be tolerated, and we'll take strict action against such individuals.

— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) February 6, 2026

Delhi Police On Missing Persons Reports

Police said every complaint is promptly registered and investigated. Reports can be filed at police stations, online, or through the 112 emergency helpline.

Dedicated missing persons squads operate in each district, supported by the Crime Branch’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit. ‘Operation Talash’, launched in 2022, continues to focus on tracing and recovering missing individuals. 

Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) Devesh Chandra Srivastava said, “No organised gang or criminal network has been found involved in cases related to missing or abducted children in Delhi so far."

He added that standard operating procedures are strictly followed in all missing persons cases, and immediate efforts are initiated to trace the missing individual, with children’s cases getting the highest priority.