Last year, almost 8,000 children went missing in the national capital, an average of 22 children every day, a significant increase compared to 2014, when 18 children on an average went missing every day.

The data has been collated by NGO CRY from replies given by Delhi Police to RTI queries filed by the organisation. According to CRY, police data showed that 7,928 children went missing in 2015, an increase of almost 1,500 children from the previous year. A report by the NGO states that in the age group of 0-12 years, the number of boys who went missing is much higher than the number of girls. More girls were reported missing in the 12-18 age group.

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The NGO said that young boys who go missing are usually employed as child labourers, while girls are forced into domestic work and commercial sex trade.

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The number of missing children is increasing in the national capital every year, said CRY’s regional director Soha Moitra, adding, “The first few hours when the child goes missing are the most crucial, especially in a city like Delhi, where children are quickly smuggled into neighbouring states”.

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