38,000 women and girls missing in Maharashtra in 4 years

• Q&A in Maharashtra Legislative Council

• 5,227 women and minor girls missing from Nagpur city

– Sachin Kaulkar, Representative, Mumbai.

Mumbai – A total of 4,096 girls under the age of 18 and 33,599 women above the age of 18 have gone missing in Maharashtra from April 1st, 2024 to March 31st, 2025. That is, 37,695 girls and women have gone missing in 1 year. A total of 5,227 women and minor girls have gone missing from Nagpur city. The Police have traced 41,193 children under ‘Operation Muskan’. Now a campaign called ‘Operation Shodh’ has been launched for women. Under this, 4,960 women and 13,064 children were traced from April 17th to May 25th. 703 children who were missing without a record have been found. Out of these, 106 women who were not registered as ‘missing’ have also been found. The Police have launcheda good initiative, informed Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in a Q&A session in the Legislative Council on July 16th.

Thackeray group MLA Sunil Shinde had asked this starred question. Opposition leader Ambadas Danve, Shiv Sena MLA Dr Manisha Kayande, BJP MLA Mrs Chitra Wagh and others participated in the discussion.

While answering the questions of the MLAs, the Chief Minister said,

1. A total of 16,160 cases of abuse and molestation against minor girls have been registered during the 4-year period from 2021 to May 2025.

2. As per the Supreme Court order, a case has to be registered immediately in cases of missing people. The Court expressed satisfaction over the two campaigns undertaken in relation to the missing persons.

3. 5,897 women and girls went missing from Nagpur city. Of these, 5,210 were found. Approximately 96% to 97% of people are found.

4. A ‘Missing Cell’ should be set up in the Police station. The Police working in this cell should investigate the cases.

5. Cases will be solved with the help of psychologists. ‘Police kaka’ and ‘Police didi’ visit the women and girls who have been found and counsel them.