Unfolding the mystery behind man-missing cases has always given more than its share of trouble to the police as a majority of the complainants approach them with the presumption that the missing person has been ‘abducted’ by someone with unknown motives.
However, investigations into a majority of the recent man-missing cases have proved that it was family disputes, marital disputes, or helicopter parents (parents who takes an overprotective or excessive interest in the life of their children) that had paved the way for the ‘planned’ missing incidents.
Police officers from the rural and the city police stations, who have investigated several such cases, reveal that in most of the instances, the individuals themselves go “missing” to take revenge on their family members. In the case of teenage boys, this “revengeful attitude” is high and they use it as a ploy to trouble their “stubborn” parents, teachers, and rivals.
“In a short time, we have come across several such instances where the missing persons confess to their disgruntlement with family as a reason for their fleeing,” says Unni Kumaran, Additional Sub Inspector, Town Police Station. While children are in search of more freedom when they go “missing,” the neglected senior citizens consider the “strategy” as a safe means to seeking shelter in spiritual centres without any family botheration, he adds.
As per records, the rural and city police registered altogether 60 man-missing cases between January 2012 and March 2013. Most of these cases have been settled by the police officers concerned. Within the city limit, it was the town police station that witnessed the highest number of man-missing instances. Over seven missing cases were reported at the station during the term.
Of the 60 man-missing cases, 23 were those of women who mostly belonged to the age group of 18 to 25, either married or unmarried. But a majority of them were found “eloping.” In the case of men, it was found as a safe means to covering up their involvement in various criminal activities and escaping financial liabilities or family responsibilities.
“In our experience, most of the young girls who were reported “missing” were found eloping with their lovers. They used it as a strategy to overcome the mounting pressure to marry someone they did not like,” says Binu Thomas, Sub Inspector in Vadakara station. In Vadakara, the police had investigated five man-missing cases, reportedly the highest in rural areas, during the term.
