Cases of kidnapping have almost doubled this year, in Delhi. Police records show that compared to 1,100 kidnapping cases registered last year, this year 2,100 cases were reported. In all cases, the kidnapped were children aged below 16 years.

The sharp increases has come about as a result of Delhi High Court’s instructions regarding cases of ‘missing’ children.

“All the entries of missing children were converted to First Information Reports (FIRs) on the orders of the Delhi High Court. The court had in March taken suo motu cognisance in the case of missing children,” said a senior police officer.

The police were directed to register an FIR in case of missing children aged below 12 years.

“Delhi Police took a decision to register FIRs in all the cases involving missing children aged below 16 years,” said Rajan Bhagat, police spokesman.

Police said registering of the FIRs has significantly added to the total crime statistics in Delhi.

“There has been a considerable increase in the crime graph in the city owing to the addition of these kidnapping cases,” said the officer.

Police said they had conducted a door-to-door survey to find out the number of children missing in the city.

“In most of these cases, no criminal intention is involved. Some relate to elopement of minor girls and some leave their house due to hostile conditions at home. In none of the cases — our investigations have shown — a gang was involved in child trafficking,” said the officer.

“Various steps were taken by the police to keep a check on the issue of missing children in the city. Computerisation of data, launching of special help lines and door to door survey were some of them,” the court was informed.