Over 20 children go missing every day in the national capital and most of them become victims of organised crimes like prostitution, pornography and organ trade, according to a child rights group.
Child Rights and You (CRY) said that Delhi Police informed it in reply to a Right to Information query that "a whopping 7,928 children went missing in 2015".
This is 1,500 children more than the previous year and "largest in the last four years", CRY said.
"Missing children represent a conglomeration of various social problems, ranging from kidnappings, abductions, trafficking," the NGO said.
It said that girls, mostly aged between 12-18 years, were among those reported missing.
"Young boys missing are majorly employed as child labourers. And girls are mostly forced into domestic work and commercial sex trade."
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It noted that the majority of missing children were from poor, especially migrant families, who come to Delhi from various parts of the country in search of livelihood.
"These missing children are most likely to become victims of heinous and organised crimes such as rape, prostitution, child pornography, forced labour, begging and organ trade. Lately, there has been evidence to support stealing of young children for illegal adoption," it said.
Soha Moitra, CRY's regional director, said it was a grave concern that the count of missing children was increasing every year here.
"The first few hours after the child goes missing are the most crucial, especially in a city like Delhi with porous borders from where children are quickly smuggled into neighbouring states," Moitra said.
In India, more than 3.85 lakh children have gone missing during 2010-2014, the NGO said, citing home ministry figures.
--IANS
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