Delhi Police's South-West District traced 80 missing persons — including 22 children and 58 adults — and reunited them with their families under 'Operation Milap' between 1 September and 30 September 2026, according to an official statement released on Saturday, 3 October. The month-long coordinated drive involved multiple police stations, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU), and local informers across the district.

How the Search Operations Were Conducted

As soon as missing-person reports were received, teams launched immediate ground-level enquiries and reviewed CCTV footage from the vicinity. Photographs of missing individuals were displayed at auto stands, e-rickshaw stands, bus stands, and railway stations across the South-West District.

Officers also questioned bus drivers, conductors, and roadside vendors to reconstruct the last-known movements of missing persons. Simultaneously, records at nearby police stations and hospitals were examined, and a network of local informers was activated to widen the search coverage.

Station-wise Breakdown of Recoveries

The recoveries were distributed across several police stations. Kapashera police recorded the highest number, tracing five missing minor girls and 11 missing adults. Sagarpur police traced 12 missing adults, while Palam Village police recovered three missing or kidnapped minor boys and seven adults.

The AHTU, South-West District, traced five missing or kidnapped children — one boy and four girls — along with five missing adults. Other contributing stations included R.K. Puram, South Campus, Vasant Kunj North, Vasant Kunj South, Sarojini Nagar, S.J. Enclave, and Kishangarh.

Long-Missing Persons Among Those Recovered

Notably, several of those recovered had been missing for extended periods. One man had been missing since 2021, one minor boy since 2024, and two adults since 2025. The remaining 76 persons had gone missing in 2026. Their recovery underlines the persistence of follow-up investigations long after initial reports are filed.

Cumulative 2026 Figures and Broader Context

The September drive forms part of a year-long effort. From 1 January to 30 September 2026, South-West District Police have traced a total of 1,229 missing persons, comprising 318 children and 911 adults, according to official data.

This comes amid growing concern over child safety and human trafficking in the national capital region. Operations like Milap reflect a shift toward structured, time-bound drives that combine technology, community outreach, and inter-station coordination — rather than relying solely on reactive policing. With the operation ongoing, authorities say the focus on prompt action and systematic investigation will continue through the remainder of the year.