Over 4,200 children reported missing in Assam in 30 months

Guwahati: Over 4,200 children have been reported missing from Assam in 30 months, less than half of whom have been traced so far. According to Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (ASCPCR), 4,234 children went missing between January 2011 and June 2013. The fact sheet provided by ASCPCR cited data from the state CID department. Of the total missing children, 1,994 were traced, which stands at just 47 per cent. However, the fact sheet showed a positive development -- the cases of missing children in the state are declining on account of numerous steps taken by various agencies. As per the data, 2,125 children went missing in 2011 and it came down to 1,852 in last year, registering a fall of 13 per cent. In 2013, 257 children have gone missing till June. On the other hand, the number of missing children traced have decreased sharply. It went down by 42 per cent to 698 in 2012 from 1,196 children during the previous year. In 2013, the state has traced 100 missing children. Of the total 4,234 missing children, number of girls are almost double than the boys. The fact sheet said of the missing children, 1,415 are boys and 2,819 girls. Yesterday, ASCPCR said crime against children has gone up by a whopping 66 per cent to 392 incidents in Assam last year with cases of rape rising by nearly four-times.

Citing data from National Crime Records Bureau, ASCPCR said incidents of minor rapes was increasing at an alarming rate and it went up to 156 cases in 2012 from 40 cases in the previous year.