Delhi Police deny surge in missing girls cases, blame paid online campaign for panic
Delhi Police on Thursday dismissed reports claiming a sharp rise in missing girls in the capital. Officials said misleading online campaigns fueled these claims. They accused certain groups of spreading fear for financial gain.
According to police, several viral posts created panic on social media. These posts suggested that large numbers of girls were going missing in Delhi. However, investigators traced the source of these claims. They found that sponsored content amplified the narrative.
In an official statement, Delhi Police said they followed multiple digital leads. They tracked promotional links and paid advertisements. As a result, they concluded that paid promotion drove the campaign. Police warned that such actions would face strict legal consequences.
Meanwhile, the clarification followed several media reports. These reports cited internal data from early January 2026. According to the figures, 807 people reportedly went missing between January 1 and January 15. This averaged nearly 54 cases per day. Among them, 509 were women and girls. The remaining 298 were men.
The same data also mentioned minors and adults. It showed that 191 missing persons were under 18. Around 616 were adults. In addition, reports claimed that police traced 235 people by January 27. At the same time, 572 remained untraced.
Furthermore, the dataset stated that nearly 27 people went missing daily during that period. It also claimed that police located about nine people each day. Another section of the data said authorities traced 181 individuals, including 90 men and 91 women. Meanwhile, 435 adults reportedly remained unaccounted for.
However, Delhi Police challenged these interpretations. Joint Commissioner of Police (Public Relations) Sanjay Tyagi called the reports rumours. He said the overall trend matched previous years. He also said January 2026 recorded fewer missing cases than earlier periods.
Although police did not release fresh figures, officials stressed that no unusual spike had occurred. They urged people not to rely on partial or misrepresented data. They emphasized that statistics often change as investigations continue.
At the same time, political reactions followed quickly. The BJP responded after the police clarification. Party leaders claimed that a promotional campaign fueled the panic. BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya said a paid drive aimed to promote a Hindi film.
He stated that certain social media accounts exaggerated missing cases to create emotional impact. He linked the campaign to the release of “Mardani 3,” which focuses on crimes against girls in Delhi. He added that police would investigate the matter thoroughly.
On the other hand, the Aam Aadmi Party attacked the BJP-led Delhi government. AAP leaders accused the administration of failing to protect citizens. In a social media post, the party described Delhi as “Lapataganj,” meaning a city of missing people.
AAP claimed that more than 800 people disappeared in 15 days. It also said that girls and women formed the majority. The party demanded stronger policing and accountability.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police appealed for calm. Officers asked residents to remain alert but responsible. They advised people to verify information before sharing it online. They also encouraged families to report missing cases immediately.
Police officials warned that misinformation damages public trust. They said false narratives divert resources from real investigations. They promised strict action against those who spread fake news.
In conclusion, authorities insist that Delhi has not witnessed any sudden rise in missing girls cases. They blame paid digital campaigns for creating fear. As political parties trade charges, police continue to focus on tracing missing persons and protecting public confidence.
