Thousands of Missing Individuals Remain Unlocated in Odisha, According to Chief Minister Mohan Majhi
Missing Persons Crisis in Odisha: A Growing Concern
A staggering number of 20,060 individuals have gone missing in the Indian state of Odisha between June 1, 2024, and February 28, 2025. This alarming statistic has been primarily linked to cases of abduction, crimes against women, including sexual violence, and possible instances of police negligence or delays in investigations.
Recent reports have highlighted several serious incidents, such as a minor who was abducted for nearly two months before being rescued, and cases of sexual violence where the suspects remain at large. These issues are rooted in social vulnerabilities, inadequate law enforcement response, and systemic lapses.
To address this problem, the authorities have implemented measures such as court-ordered police oversight, prompting active interventions. This has led to the rescue of a 16-year-old girl and the suspension of negligent police officials. The court has also mandated strict oversight and personal monitoring of investigations by senior police officers to improve accountability and outcomes.
In addition, medical examinations have been conducted, and rescued victims have been placed in shelter homes for care and counseling. However, unlike in states like Maharashtra, where targeted operations like 'Operation Muskaan' and 'Operation Shodh' have significantly increased the recovery rates of missing women and children, Odisha’s measures appear more reactive and focused on high-profile interventions rather than broad preventive campaigns.
As of February 28, 2025, over 13,000 individuals are still missing in Odisha. This high number of unresolved cases has sparked growing public concern, leading to questions from opposition parties urging the government to take immediate action.
Congress MLA Sofia Firdous recently questioned the number of missing persons cases, their resolution status, and the reasons for delays in resolving the cases. Her questions were directed towards the issue of missing persons in Odisha, raised during the Odisha Legislative Assembly session on Monday.
In response, the Chief Minister Mohan Majhi revealed that 7,048 missing persons have been traced so far. Law enforcement agencies are collaborating with various departments to find the remaining missing individuals, and they are using modern surveillance technology to track and rescue them.
The government is intensifying efforts to trace the missing individuals in Odisha. Despite these efforts, the opposition parties are calling for stringent measures from the government to address the issue of missing persons in the state.
As the situation unfolds, it is crucial for the authorities to take proactive steps to prevent such incidents and ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens. The ongoing collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the judiciary offers a promising start, but broader preventive campaigns and dedicated tracing operations like 'Operation Muskaan' are necessary to effectively combat this crisis.
- The current political discourse in Odisha revolves around the growing crisis of missing persons, with the need for proactive steps to prevent such incidents and ensure citizen safety being at the forefront of discussions.
- Amidst the ongoing quest to locate the over 13,000 missing individuals in Odisha, there is a pressing demand from the opposition for stringent measures and the implementation of dedicated crime-and-justice operations akin to 'Operation Muskaan', as a means to address this general-news issue more effectively.
