PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
Refuting claims that an average of three children went missing in Uttarakhand every day, inspector general of police (Crime, Law & Order) Nilesh Anand Bharne said that a media report misreported the figures from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, creating public confusion. In a Press conference on Monday, Bharne stated that a total of 1,025 children went missing in 2023, including 729 girls and 296 boys. Of these, the police traced 933 children—654 girls and 279 boys, by the end of the year, as recorded in the NCRB report.
He added that of the remaining 92 missing children, 77 have also been recovered. Bharne claimed that a media report incorrectly reported the 933 recovered children as still missing. He said that this misrepresentation has led to a misleading perception among the public. Addressing broader crime data, the IG said that crimes against women in Uttarakhand have shown a consistent decline, with a 12 per cent reduction over the past year.
The state recorded 3,342 such cases in 2024 compared to 3,808 in 2023. Cases of dowry deaths fell by 20 per cent and cyber sexual crimes decreased by 13 per cent. He added that murder cases reduced by about two per cent and 94 per cent of abduction cases were solved. Theft recovery rates in the State reached 52.4 per cent, significantly higher than the national average of 31.4 percent, he claimed.
Bharne said that Uttarakhand Police continues to take action to control crime and strengthen public safety through ongoing operations and investigation efforts.
