Kolhapur: 17 missing girls tracked down in 2019

KOLHAPUR: The anti-human trafficking department of the Kolhapur police has succeeded in tracking down 17 missing girls in 2019.
The police said almost all these girls had eloped — after falling in love or due to some affection.
The department keeps checking if there is any kidnap of trafficking angle to the missing cases. Last week, the department had circulated a note in the local newspapers mentioning the details of five missing girls and had requested the citizens for any available information.
Sarojini Chavan, the assistant police inspector attached with anti-human trafficking department, said, “As per government rules, once the parents complain about their child — boy or girl — going missing, the police register a case of kidnapping.The police station concerned launches a search operation with the help of other agencies across the country and trace the child. If they fail, then the case is transferred to our wing.”
“In 2019, our department was handed over 33 missing cases and we have successfully traced 17 missing girls and handed over them to their parents. Almost all of them had eloped with someone after falling in love or other similar reasons,” she said.
“We have issued a notice with details of five other girls who have are missing since 2018, and we are yet trace them. The aim of publishing details with photos is to get clues regarding the girls’ whereabouts,” she said. “Generally, the photographs and details of missing girls are published in newspapers only after taking consent from their parents. If the parents do not give consent, we do not publish the photos,” she added.
According to the department, out of 33 missing girls in 2019, the department is yet to trace 16 girls. The department had traced 13 missing girls in 2018 and 15 in 2017 as same number of cases were transferred to the department during that period.