Navi Mumbai Police Launch 'Operation Search' To Trace Long-Missing Women, Children; 22 Teams Formed, Helpline 103 Activated

Navi Mumbai: In a significant move to trace long-missing women and children, Navi Mumbai Police has launched ‘Operation Search’ as part of a larger state-wide initiative across Maharashtra. The drive, which began on April 17 and will continue till May 15, aims to revisit cases where individuals have been missing for over a year and remain untraced.

Under this campaign, the Navi Mumbai Police Commissionerate has formed 22 dedicated search teams, including 20 teams at the police station level and 2 teams from the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Crime Branch. These teams will work specifically to collect updated information and conduct renewed efforts to locate missing persons.

The operation will be carried out in collaboration with child welfare bodies, including the Child Welfare Committees of Thane, Ulhasnagar, and Karjat, as well as the Juvenile Observation Home in Thane. Several NGOs operating in the Navi Mumbai area are also joining hands with the police in this initiative, said Navi Mumbai police.

As part of the renewed strategy, police will update and verify data related to women and children who went missing more than a year ago and whose whereabouts are still unknown. “These efforts aim to rekindle the investigation process and bring closure to families waiting for news of their loved ones,” Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Ajay Landge from Navi Mumbai, said.

The Navi Mumbai Police has urged citizens to come forward with any information they may have about missing persons. A dedicated helpline number 103 has been activated, and the police have appealed to the public to use this channel to share leads.