Number of incidence of Kidnapping and Abduction in India

• India witnessed a steady rise in kidnapping and abduction cases, particularly those involving missing children and women. The number of missing children deemed as kidnapped surged sharply from 28,756 to 37,844, reflecting growing concerns around child safety and trafficking.

• Kidnapping and abduction of women to compel marriage also increased from 28,012 to 30,496, indicating ongoing exploitation under the guise of forced unions.

• Serious crimes like kidnapping for ransom and kidnapping to commit murder remained relatively low and stable, which is a positive sign. Other kidnapping categories such as for begging or general abduction showed fluctuations but stayed concerningly high.

• The data highlights an alarming trend of rising abductions, especially targeting children and women, pointing to systemic issues in law enforcement, child protection, and social awareness.