Following a 20 June directive from the Legislative Committee on Women and Child Welfare, these STFs aim to coordinate efforts to trace and protect missing and abducted children
Published Jul 09, 2025 | 7:28 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 09, 2025 | 7:28 PM
Karnataka Forms District-Level Task Forces to Tackle Child Trafficking and Missing Cases (Supplied)
In response to rising concerns over child trafficking and unresolved missing children cases, the Karnataka government has formed district-level Special Task Forces (STF). Following a 20 June directive from the Legislative Committee on Women and Child Welfare, these STFs aim to coordinate efforts to trace and protect missing and abducted children. Each task force will be headed by the district police chief and include 10 officials from various departments, with the District Child Protection Officer as member secretary. Monthly reviews will be conducted, and parents of missing children will be summoned for further inputs.
The STF will also provide psychological support to affected families, launch special campaigns, and analyse causes of child abductions. Awareness programmes involving communities and self-help groups will also be organised. All missing children cases will be treated as kidnappings, with Bengaluru alone reporting 800–1,000 such cases annually. Data will be shared with the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority.
