The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police over media reports that the number of missing children was on the rise in Tamil Nadu and the police were not investigating those cases seriously.
Taking suo motu cognizance of a media report which stated that more than two children went missing every day in the State and 271 children had gone missing from different parts of the State in the last three months, the Commission called for detailed reports from the authorities within four weeks, an official release stated.
Observing that “can there be a bigger pain for the parents and the little children than losing each other,” the Commission said the contents of the media report, “if true, raise serious issue of violation of human rights of the children and their parents.”
The Commission also referred to a judgment of the Supreme Court in 2013, which made registrations of FIR mandatory and insisted prompt investigation in cases of missing children.
According to the media report, the number of missing children cases went up from 441 in 2014 to 656 last year. In the State capital alone, 114 children went missing in 2014 and it was 149 last year.
“Reportedly, the mafia that controls begging and even those involved in child prostitution and adoption rackets could be behind these disappearances. Although, begging is banned in Chennai, seldom any action is initiated against the practice,” the NHRC pointed out.
