Surge in cases of missing minor girls sparks outrage across Ferozepur district

An alarming rise in incidents involving minor girls being taken away or reportedly eloping has sparked widespread outrage across communities in Ferozepur. The surge in such cases has intensified concerns among locals, who are already facing the compounded challenges of poverty, lack of development, and limited employment opportunities. This growing trend has raised serious questions about the safety and security of young girls, highlighting the urgent need for both social and economic reforms in the district.

According to sources, 77 FIRs were registered in connection with the missing girls over the last two years in Ferozepur. In many cases, parents claimed that their daughters were misled and manipulated before running away, often identifying the males involved in these incidents.

The police confirmed that 38 FIRs were registered last year and another 38 FIRs have been registered this year up to now. This data did not include the cases which were registered before 2023. There were also many cases, in which the families did not lodge any complaints due to social stigma.

When The Tribune team attempted to speak with the families of the missing girls, many were hesitant to discuss the issue.

However, a few families did open up, though they requested to remain anonymous. Sources revealed that the majority of these missing girls came from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, where they often faced mistreatment or were raised in environments lacking emotional support and equal care.

These conditions made them vulnerable to

manipulation, as they were easily swayed by individuals who offered attention or affection.

While the police claimed that in most cases, minor girls left their homes for matters of the heart, they still clarified that one could not ignore the possibility of them landing in wrong hands.

“Many of them are abandoned after a few months of elopement and rendered vulnerable to abuse and trafficking,” said Secretary Red Cross Ashok Behl.

Rachna Mittal, a psychiatrist at Civil Hospital, said the reason behind eloping could vary from case to case, adding that there was a dire need to educate the girls and make them aware of the consequences of running away.

SP Randhir Kumar said that in most cases, the minor girls were lured on the pretext of marriage or they left home with their consent.

“Even if it’s with consent, we do not accept if the girl is a minor and then a case is registered,” the SP added.

“Families from lower strata worry about people

gossiping and do not report such cases,” said another official.

He added that parents concealed facts and shared limited information in many cases.

Ranjan Sharma, a social worker, said that the police rarely went all-out to find the missing girls.

He said that the police informed their counterparts in other districts but rarely followed up the cases unless they were really pressurised by the

complainant.