“This is not just missing persons, it's organized crime” — Sadhvi Samdarshi Giri's direct demand to the government regarding NCRB records on missing women

Jaipur. Special Correspondent: Ravindra Arya

The incidents of women and girls going missing in India are no longer limited to a single state or administrative failure. The latest data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) clearly indicates that the country is going through a crisis where millions of women are reported "missing" every year, and a large number of them never return home.

This situation is not just a law and order problem, but a serious social, moral, and human rights crisis. Experts believe that the administrative use of the term "missing" downplays the severity of the actual crime, preventing prompt action and high-level investigations.

The picture in Rajasthan: The statistics don't lie

According to official NCRB records, thousands of cases of women going missing have been registered in Rajasthan over the years. In 2023 alone, more than 36,000 new cases of women and girls going missing were registered in the state.  Most of these are teenagers and young women.

Crime experts say that the actual number could be much higher, as a large number of families do not even reach the point of filing a report due to social pressure, fear of stigma, and police indifference.

• The word "missing": A shield to cover up crime
• According to social analysts, the word "missing" has now become an administrative shield that—
• Weakens the suspicion of abduction
• Hides crimes related to human trafficking, forced marriage, and organized networks
• Slows down investigations into international and cross-border crimes
• This is why, in many cases, even after years have passed, there is no trace of the victimized women.  Social analysts believe that the word "missing" has become an administrative convenience. The use of this term—
• Weakens suspicions of abduction
• Conceals crimes like human trafficking, forced marriage, and love jihad
• Hinders investigations into inter-state and cross-border crimes
• Therefore, in many cases, victims remain untraceable even after years.
• Sadhvi Samdarshi Giri's direct warning

Against this backdrop, Sadhvi Samdarshi Giri of Rajasthan Shaktipeeth, Shri Shaktipeeth Jaipur, has raised serious questions about the government and the police system. She says that considering the disappearance of women as mere missing person cases exposes the insensitivity of the state.

In the words of Sadhvi Samdarshi Giri

“When a daughter or woman suddenly disappears, calling it merely a missing person case is a compromise with crime. If the accused is known, an FIR for kidnapping should be registered against them, and if the situation is unclear, a case should be registered under kidnapping against unknown persons. Half of the women never return home—this is not just a statistic, but a warning for the country.”

Precious time is being wasted

The Sadhvi explained that in the current system, the first 24 to 48 hours, which are crucial for any search operation, are wasted in files and procedures. During this time, criminals manage to take the victim across state or national borders.

• In many developed countries, as soon as a woman or minor goes missing, it is considered a potential abduction, and—
• All security agencies are activated
• Transport and border surveillance are intensified
• Digital and technical searches are immediately initiated
• In India, on the contrary, most cases remain confined to the "missing persons register" for years.
• Three Clear Demands from the Government
• Sadhvi Samdarshi Giri has put forward three concrete demands to the government:
• A mandatory FIR under kidnapping charges should be registered as soon as a woman or girl goes missing.
• A separate national and state-level search budget should be created for finding missing women.
• A separate category of "probable abduction" should be added to the crime record system instead of "missing."

National Warning

• Sadhvi Samdarshi Giri stated unequivocally:
• "If the system doesn't change today, tomorrow a sister will go missing from every home, and she will remain just a number in government files."
• According to her, this issue is not just about women's safety, but a question directly linked to India's social fabric, moral values, and national security.
• NCRB data reveals a bitter truth:
• Women are continuously disappearing,
• but empathy and action are steadily weakening.
• The question is no longer why women are disappearing,
• the question is whether the government will have the courage to accept the reality of "abduction" instead of using the term "missing"?