New Delhi, 13 March (H.S.): The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took suo motu cognizance of surging missing persons cases and administrative lapses in tracing them, issuing notices to the Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police (DGPs) of Bihar, Odisha, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.

The commission demanded detailed reports within two weeks on the alarming trends highlighted in a March 9 media report citing National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data.

NCRB figures reveal peak human trafficking in Odisha, Bihar, Telangana, and Maharashtra, with Odisha leading in minor boys and Rajasthan topping minor girls' cases—suspected victims forced into begging, child labor, prostitution, and illicit activities.

In Bihar, 12-14 thousand annual missing persons reports since 2013 have seen only two-thirds rescued, many children.Action DirectivesNHRC seeks proposed measures to curb rising missing cases, especially children, plus latest NCRB statistics on these states' status.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar