Over 12,790 child abductions in state alarm Karnataka, Bengaluru Urban tops the list

Karnataka has witnessed a troubling surge in child abductions over the past four years, with Bengaluru Urban district emerging as the hotspot, according to recent government data cited in media reports.

Between 2020 and 2024, a total of 12,790 children were reported kidnapped across the state. Alarmingly, 1,334 of these children remain untraced. The data reveals that girls are disproportionately affected, accounting for 9,261 of the missing children. Among them, 972 are still unaccounted for, while 362 boys remain missing out of the 3,529 reported cases. Overall, the percentage of untraced children stands at 10.43%.

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Southern Karnataka districts dominate the list of high-incidence regions. Alongside Bengaluru Urban, districts such as Tumakuru, Shivamogga, Mandya, Davanagere, Hassan, Chitradurga, and Mysuru have reported significant numbers of child disappearances.

Cases of children vanishing during routine activities—such as travelling to tuitions or running errands—have become increasingly common. Despite efforts by state and central agencies, including the formation of special task forces, many cases remain unresolved, pointing to significant gaps in prevention and investigation systems.

Experts attribute the trend to a mix of socio-economic and emotional stressors. Factors such as poverty, family conflict, academic pressure, and psychological distress are prompting children to flee, only to fall prey to criminal rackets engaged in trafficking, forced labour, begging, or exploitation. The growing crisis underscores the urgent need for coordinated intervention and improved child protection mechanisms across the state.