Chandrapur: Chandrapur Police have traced and reunited 1,155 of the 1,176 children reported missing or kidnapped in the district between 2021 and May 2026, achieving a recovery rate of over 98 per cent.Police said intensive search efforts are continuing in the remaining 21 cases, reaffirming that locating every missing child remains a top priority.The achievement comes under the state-wide Operation Shodh and Operation Muskaan, conducted under the guidance of the Chandrapur Police and the Women and Child Crime Prevention Department. The operations combine technology-driven investigations with coordinated field action to track missing children across district and state boundaries.Investigators rely on the TrackChild portal, the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS), CCTV footage, mobile phone location analysis and technical intelligence. Police teams also work closely with law enforcement agencies in other states to trace children who may have travelled outside Maharashtra.To strengthen the response, every police station in Chandrapur district has established a dedicated Missing Persons Cell responsible for collecting intelligence, conducting technical investigations and coordinating searches. The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) has also played a key role in the rescue operations.An analysis by the police identified romantic relationships, excessive social media use, online friendships leading to exploitation, family disputes, disagreements with parents and impulsive decisions made in anger as the most common reasons behind children leaving home.Police have urged parents to maintain open communication with children, stay aware of their social circles and online activities, monitor their digital behaviour, and seek timely support from teachers or the police if they notice signs of emotional distress or vulnerability.Police officials said all available resources are being deployed to locate the 21 children who are still missing.
