Bihar is witnessing a sharp rise in child trafficking cases, with thousands of children still missing according to recent reports. Senior Congress leader Premchand Mishra has highlighted the gravity of the situation in Patna, citing official data that shows nearly half of the reported missing children last year remain untraced. The state currently ranks second in the country for missing girls, prompting serious concerns about the safety of minors and the effectiveness of current law and order measures.
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What do the latest statistics say about missing children in Bihar?
Official data from 2025 reveals a concerning trend regarding child safety in the state. While many children were successfully recovered, a significant number remain missing according to police records. The demographic breakdown shows that girls are particularly vulnerable to these organized gangs.
| Category (Year 2025) | Statistical Data |
|---|---|
| Total Missing Children Reported | 14,699 |
| Children Successfully Traced | 7,772 |
| Children Still Missing | 6,927 |
| Total Missing Girls | 12,526 |
| Total Missing Boys | 2,173 |
Congress leader Premchand Mishra pointed out that the high number of untraced children suggests that human trafficking gangs are operating with ease. He criticized the slow recovery rates and urged the government to strengthen the policing system to protect vulnerable families.
What steps are being taken under Operation Kavach and new police rules?
To address these concerns, the Bihar Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has formalized Operation Kavach. Under this initiative, 44 specialized Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTU) have been deployed across all districts and major airports including Patna, Darbhanga, and Gaya. These units are led by inspector-level officers to ensure dedicated focus on trafficking cases.
- Escalation Protocol: If a missing child is not found within four months by local police, the case is automatically moved to the specialized district-level AHTU.
- Digital Integration: All 1,196 police stations are now linked to the national Mission Vatsalya portal for faster data sharing.
- Ground Verification: Police are conducting door-to-door verification to update records, as some children may have returned home without official documentation.
- Recent Enforcement: On March 10, 2026, the RPF arrested a man from Lakhisarai at Hatia station for allegedly trafficking three boys to Tamil Nadu.
Dr. Amit Jain, Head of CID Weaker Sections, stated that efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining 6,927 children. Authorities have urged the public to use the Dial 112 service to report any suspicious activities related to child safety instead of following unverified social media reports.
