Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi
Udupi, Oct 27: Cases of missing persons, including young men and women who reportedly leave home for various reasons, including love affairs, have increased in the district over the past few months. This has left families anxiously waiting and pleading with the police to trace their missing children.
Recent cases registered at various police stations in the district include young women who have just turned 18 and went missing after leaving home to attend tailoring classes, other coaching classes or visit relatives, without returning home.
Preliminary police investigations indicate that many young women have gone missing over love affairs. Some young men, who were expected to support their families, have also reportedly eloped with their partners. Others have left home due to harassment by creditors, family problems and employment-related difficulties.
There have also been cases of workers who came to the district from other districts and states for employment, along with their children, going missing.
Parents and relatives are worried about whether young women are being exploited in the name of love and whether any of the missing young men and women have joined anti-national organisations. They have been pleading with the police to trace their children.
The missing persons include not only young men and women but also people aged above 35. Police have traced some of those reported missing, while some have been found to have married.
According to official statistics, efforts to trace 72 people remain pending.
Among boys below 18 years of age, 16 went missing in 2024, 15 in 2025 and seven so far in 2026. Police have traced all of them.
Among girls below 18, 16 went missing in 2024, 18 in 2025 and 19 so far in 2026. Police have traced all the minors reported missing during these three years.
Among men aged above 18, 148 went missing in 2024, 122 in 2025 and 85 so far in 2026. Of these, 134 were traced in 2024, 105 in 2025 and 59 in 2026. A total of 59 young men and men remain untraced.
Among women, 112 went missing in 2024, 73 in 2025 and 67 so far in 2026. Of these, 110 were traced in 2024, 72 in 2025 and 57 in 2026.
Thirteen young women and women remain to be traced by the police.
A police team has been formed to trace missing persons. Some young women, women, young men and men are still untraced. Udupi district superintendent of police Hariram Shankar said that the police had confirmed that none of those who went missing and were subsequently traced had been involved in illegal activities or joined anti-national organisations.