Over 10,000 Children Missing In Karnataka In 6 Years, Nearly Half From Bengaluru

Last Updated:September 23, 2025, 15:49 IST

More than 10,000 children have been reported missing or kidnapped in Karnataka over the last six years, and nearly half of those cases 4,849 originated in Bengaluru alone.

The pattern reveals not only a general rise but a stark gender gap. In every year listed, the number of missing girls is more than double that of boys (Image: Representative)

Bengaluru is grappling with a disturbing trend: the number of children reported missing across Karnataka has surged year after year, with girls disappearing at far higher rates than boys. Data from the past six years paints a grim picture and underscores an urgent call for stronger action by the state government.

More than 10,000 children have been reported missing or kidnapped in Karnataka over the last six years, and nearly half of those cases 4,849 originated in Bengaluru alone. Following a Supreme Court directive, any missing child case is officially treated as a kidnapping until proven otherwise.

Despite ongoing investigations, the fate of many of these children remains unknown. The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) has sounded the alarm, announcing plans to write to the government and senior police officials to speed up efforts to trace these children. Members of the commission say the statistics are not merely numbers; they represent young lives whose safety is in question.

Year-Wise Data

The following table shows how the number of missing children has steadily climbed in most years, with girls consistently outnumbering boys:

The pattern reveals not only a general rise but a stark gender gap. In every year listed, the number of missing girls is more than double that of boys.

Fears of Trafficking and Exploitation

What worries the commission most is what might be happening to these children after they vanish. KSCPCR members suspect that some missing minors could have been victims of human trafficking, including organ harvesting or forced prostitution.

These fears are not unfounded; similar cases across India have shown that missing children are vulnerable to exploitation. Shasidhar Kosambi, a member of the commission, shared with News18 that over 12,000 children have gone missing or were kidnapped over the years, and more than 1,200 remain untraceable.

“We have doubts about their safety and whether they are still alive. Therefore, we have written a letter to senior police officials. We will take action as soon as we receive a report,” Kosambi said.

Call for Immediate Action

The mystery surrounding the whereabouts of these children highlights an urgent need for government intervention. Child-rights activists argue for better coordination between law enforcement agencies, faster response times when a child is reported missing, and stronger community awareness programs to prevent abductions.

The growing list of missing children is not just a statistic, it is a humanitarian crisis that demands immediate attention. Each untraceable child represents a family living in anguish and a society failing to protect its most vulnerable members.

Karnataka’s government, along with law enforcement and civil society, faces a critical test: to bring these children home and to halt the tide of disappearances before more lives are lost to silence.

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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More

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