Karnataka Govt Launches Special Task Force to Trace Missing and Abducted Children

News Flash

08 July

District-Level Action Teams Formed Following Legislative Committee Concerns on Child Disappearances

Bengaluru: In a significant move to address the alarming rise in cases of child abduction and disappearance across Karnataka, the state government has constituted a district-level Special Task Force to actively trace and recover missing children. The circular (Ref: DCP/CNCP/COM/1/2025) issued on July 3, 2025, mandates coordinated action by various departments under the leadership of the Department of Women and Child Development.

“Children are the assets of the country. The future of the nation depends on the proper upbringing and care of its children. For this, a conducive environment and ample opportunities for healthy development are essential. The system must provide protection to children,” the circular states.

The move follows a serious deliberation held on 20.06.2025 by the Women and Child Welfare Committee of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, where concerns over the increasing number of unsolved missing children cases were raised. The Committee urged for urgent district-wise action, noting that child abduction not only violates children’s rights but also impacts societal well-being.

Special Task Force Composition and Structure

A robust structure has been outlined for the Special Task Force at the district level:

• President:

  • Deputy District Superintendents of Police (for Bengaluru)

  • Superintendents of Police and Police Commissioners (other districts)

• Core Members:

  • Member Secretaries of the District Legal Services Authority

  • Additional Collectors

  • Deputy Director, Women and Child Development

  • Deputy Director, School Education and Literacy

  • Chairman, District Child Welfare Committee

  • Members of the District Juvenile Justice Board

  • Head, Children's Special Police Unit

  • Anti-Human Trafficking Unit Officers

  • Two Paralegal Volunteers

  • Two Voluntary organisations working in child welfare

  • District Child Protection Officers (as Member Secretary)

Mandate and Responsibilities of the Task Force

The task force is entrusted with the following key responsibilities:

• Monthly Review Meetings:
  To evaluate the progress of missing and abducted child cases district-wise.

• Parental Engagement:
  Parents of missing children will be invited to these meetings to provide additional inputs, and will be offered close counseling, moral support, and psychological assistance.

• Special Campaigns:
  Coordinated campaigns will be conducted to trace long-pending missing cases in collaboration with multiple departments.

• Awareness Drives:
  Educational and sensitization programs involving self-help groups and communities will be conducted to tackle issues of child kidnapping and trafficking.

• Research and Impact Assessment:
  A study will be undertaken to assess the root causes and long-term impact of kidnappings and trafficking, with findings submitted to the government.

Monthly Reporting Mandate

District Child Protection Officers will be required to submit monthly reports to the Directorate of Child Protection detailing the status of registered complaints and actions taken. The Karnataka State Legal Services Authority (KSLSA) will provide necessary monthly data for review and accountability.

Instructions Issued To:

• All District SPs across Karnataka

• Members of the Women and Child Welfare Committee

• Senior government officials from the Departments of Home Affairs and Women & Child Development

• Directorate of Child Protection, Bangalore