Police explanation regarding the missing child

Photo: Collected

**News Desk:** Police have provided clarification regarding child disappearances in the country from January to July 2026. In a press release today, Police Headquarters said that media reports had not mentioned how many of the missing children were recovered or reunited with their families, so the reports failed to reflect the full picture — creating a risk of public confusion.

The release stated that after various media outlets recently reported that more than 15,000 children had gone missing in the country between January and July this year, Police Headquarters verified the matter locally through the relevant police stations.

According to police data, 474 General Diaries (GDs) were filed for missing children aged 0–9 from January to July. Of these, 406 were recovered, while 68 remain unrecovered.

During the same period, 15,243 children aged 10–17 went missing. Of these, 13,273 were recovered, while 1,970 remain unrecovered. In total, out of 15,717 missing children reported between January and July 2026, 2,038 — about 13% of the total — remain unrecovered.

Police verification found that children aged 0–9 typically go missing while visiting unfamiliar places with family members, losing their way, being unable to state their family's name or address, or wandering off elsewhere while trying to return home alone.

For children aged 10–17, police cited reasons including sulking/resentment, pressure from studies, fleeing out of shame after involvement in immoral activities, a desire to live independently, using disappearance as a tactic to extract money or other benefits from family members, family disputes and unrest, and the influence of friends or classmates.

Police Headquarters said that as part of simplifying police services, an online GD facility has now been introduced, which has significantly increased the number of GDs filed.

According to police data, GDs for missing children numbered 17,808 in 2023, 16,414 in 2024, and 22,550 in 2025.