3,781 over-18 citizens missing for four years

Like Anuksh,3,781 citizens,over the age of 18,from areas covered by 38 police stations of Pune Police Commissionerate left their homes in the last four years and remain missing,reveals an RTI application moved by this paper with the Pune police Commissionerate. Of the 3,781 missing citizens over 18 years of age,1,870 are men and 1,911 women.

The RTI reply says every year,over 2,500 men and women go missing from Pune city.

As reported by The Express on Monday,there are 1,142 below-18 missing from the city in the last four years. Collectively,of the 15,000 who went missing in the same period,10,000 returned and nearly 5,000 have not been traced.

Describing the numbers as shocking,Neelam Gorhe,president of the Stree Aadhar Kendra,said her NGO,which reunites estranged women and girls with their families,found the police lacking proper records or a tracking mechanism. “If such a large number citizens,especially kids,go missing,then it’s shocking and needs serious and concerted efforts from police,” she said. “Women and girls land up in wrong places from where it is practically impossible to escape as the network of traffickers is strong. Most girls from Maharashtra are transported to West Bengal,Bangladesh and Pakistan. They are taken to such places that they don’t understand the local languages,” she said.

Gorhe said,“Young girls fall in love and find themselves being cheated. In many cases,agents masquerade as lovers and force girls into prostitution.”

Gorhe said women who leave homes due to domestic problems are exploited by unscrupulous elements. “Then there are those with mental and physical problems who roam the streets. Widows and divorcees who lose hope also leave homes out of frustration. Family dispute is another reason. Men who are drunkards are shunned by families and some of them die in accidents,” she said.

She added that during their interaction with police,they stress proper system and network to keep track of missing persons. For instance,she said,a police website of missing people would help the department trace them better. “But a website is not in place,” she said.

Human rights advocates Asim Sarode and Sushil Mancharkar slam lack of seriousness on the part of police. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Prabhakar Patil says two constables are assigned at every police station to track missing people. “As for the records,I am looking into this aspect,” he said.