Affairs and forced marriages lead to most cases of missing people, figures given by the state home ministry reveal. Harassment by parents also plays a significant role.
As many as 22,447 women and 22,805 boys and girls have gone missing in the state. Bangalore tops the list.
Other factors forcing them to leave their homes are falling in love, sickness, poverty, failure on the academic front and negative influence of cinema, television and mobile phones, said R Ashoka, minister for home, in a written reply to a question raised by MLC M Srinivas.
‘’Parents are making marriage alliance without bothering to take the opinion of their children. Many girls and boys whose marriages were fixed against their will have gone missing,’’ he said.
Bangalore tops the list of missing cases followed by Bangalore Rural district, Mysore, Belgaum, Mysore, Ramanagara, Mandya, Tumkur and Shimoga.
To prevent such incidents, the government has set up help centres for women. A woman officer of the rank of assistant sub-inspector and police constable will be posted to provide help to the distressed callers.
To prevent the trafficking of women and children, an anti-trafficking cell has been set up under the criminal investigation department.
