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Feb 07, 2026By Seema Khanna
Your WhatsApp is exploding. 807 people missing in 15 days in Delhi. 13 children every single day. Half of them still not found.
Whether the numbers show a surge or not doesn't matter when it could be your child. Kidnapping happens. Child trafficking is real. And your kids need to know how to protect themselves.
The Reality: Understanding What's Happening
Between January 1-15, 2026, Delhi Police recorded 191 missing children. That's 13 kids every day. Of these, 146 were girls. About 71% of teenage cases remain untraced.
Delhi Police says this isn't a surge; they average 2,000 missing persons monthly, consistent for a decade. But here's what matters: whether it's a surge or not, children are disappearing. Some run away. Some get lost. And yes, some are kidnapped.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau, one child disappears every eight minutes in India. Child trafficking is the third-largest criminal industry globally, and India is a major hub. Children are trafficked for begging, labor, sexual exploitation, and organ trade.
This isn't about creating panic. It's about facing reality so you can prepare your children properly.
How Kidnappers Target Children: Tactics You Must Know
Kidnappers use specific tricks that work on polite, helpful children:
Common Tactics:
- The Offer: "Want candy/money? Come with me."
- The Animal: "Help me find my lost puppy!"
- The Emergency: "Your mom had an accident, she sent me."
- The Authority: "You did something wrong. Come with me now."
- The Fame: "You're so pretty, let me take your picture."
- The Friend: "Your dad sent me to pick you up."
These work because kids are taught to be respectful to adults. That needs to change.
What Your Child MUST Know: Life-Saving Safety Skills
Stop saying "don't talk to strangers." Most abductions involve someone the child knows or someone trustworthy-looking.
Teach These Instead:
- Never Go Without Permission: "Never go ANYWHERE with ANYONE without checking with me first. Even if they know your name."
- Scream Loud: "If anyone tries to grab you, yell 'This is not my parent!' Don't be polite. Make a scene."
- Grab and Hold: Teach them to grab onto something - a pole, a tree, another person - and hold tight.
- No Secret Rule: "Adults should NEVER ask you to keep secrets, especially about touch or going places."
- Create a Code Word: Only your family knows it. Anyone claiming you sent them must know this word.
- Adults Don't Need Kids' Help: "Real adults don't ask children for help. If they do, it's a trick. Run."
Age-Specific Protection Strategies
- For Kids Under 8: Hold their hand ALWAYS in public. Teach them to scream if grabbed. Make them memorize your phone number and address. Identify safe people: police, women with children, store employees. If separated, stay put, don't go with anyone.
- For Kids 8-12: Buddy system everywhere. Check-in rules when they reach and before leaving. Role-play all the kidnapping tricks. Trust their gut feelings. Remember: adults don't need help from kids.
- For Teenagers 12-18: The person they're chatting with online could be anyone. Never meet online friends alone. Someone knowing their name from social media doesn't make them safe. Always know where they are, who they're with. Create a code system for uncomfortable situations.
Your Action Plan: Start TODAY
- Tonight: Teach the code word. Practice screaming together. Check their social media.
- This Week: Walk their routes, point out safe places. Role-play the tricks. Update their photos on your phone.
- High-Risk Spots: Railway stations, crowded markets, walking alone after school, public toilets, and online gaming chats.
Stop Forwarding, Start Preparing
WhatsApp forwards create panic, not protection. What actually helps? Teaching your child the tricks. Practicing safety skills. Having open conversations. Prepared kids are protected kids.
Your Child's Safety Is in Your Hands
Delhi isn't uniquely dangerous. This is happening across India, across the world. But that doesn't make it acceptable. 13 children disappearing daily in Delhi means 13 families destroyed. One of them could be yours.
So stop scrolling past those forwards. Stop thinking "it won't happen to us." Stop assuming your child knows what to do. Sit down with your kids tonight. Teach them the tricks kidnappers use. Practice screaming together. Create your code word. Walk their routes. Know their online world. Make these conversations normal, not scary. Make safety skills as automatic as looking both ways before crossing the road.
Your child's life might depend on what you teach them today.
Stay alert. Stay prepared. Stay safe.
Report Missing Children Immediately: Police: 112 | Childline: 1098 | Women Helpline: 181
Remember: The first 24 hours are critical. Don't wait. Don't hope they'll come back. Report immediately.
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