Most of them were physically and sexually abused by their family members or relatives
Disputes among parents seem to be resulting in the rise in incidents wherein teenagers are running away from homes. A total of 2,366 children under the age of 18 have run away in the last two years.
Interestingly, most of the children across all economic strata left home due to physical as well as sexual abuse by their family members or close relatives.
As many as 532 boys under 18 and 738 adolescent girls were reported to have gone missing in the city in the last two years.
Deputy commissioner of police (crime) Rajendra Bansode told DNA, “The number of children going missing is alarming. In most of the cases, children ran away either due to differences between parents and pressure from parents to perform well in examinations. To track down the missing persons, we have formed special squads at police station level which regularly do a follow up of the cases.’’
A senior CID official said the state CID has been monitoring the data of missing children every month and uploading it on the CID website along with the photos of missing children.
“As per the norms, if the child is missing for more than three months, officer of the rank of above assistant commissioner of police must take over the investigations,’’
he said.
Senior inspector Bhanupratap Barge of social security cell said, “Boys often leave home because they are under pressure to perform well in the examinations but they return after some days.
In 60% cases, they return home while in 30% cases, we have to hand them over to their parents. Most of the boys are found staying with their relatives and friends. There have been cases of teenaged girls eloping and staying away from homes till they reach the age of 18 and get married legally to boys
whom they love. We feel adult men do a vanishing act for reasons like going bankrupt or marital discords. Adult women mostly go missing because of problems with husbands, in-laws or other family members.’’
Social activist Anuradha Sahasrabudhe said, “We have
observed that many a times, the main reason of
children running away from home is physical as well as
sexual abuse by their near and dear ones and peer pressure.
When we find the children, we take them to their homes, but at times, they run away again as they do not want to live with their parents.’’
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