Delhi Police trace missing girl after 8 years, recover her from Bihar
Synopsis
Eight years after a 14-year-old went missing from Delhi's Anand Parbat, the AHTU tracked her across 90 shelter homes, 52 orphanages, a cold lead in Kanpur, and finally to a village in Bihar's Samastipur — recovering her on 15 September and reuniting her with her family two days later. It is a rare closure in a category of cases that most often go unresolved.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police's AHTU recovered a minor girl from Patori, Samastipur, Bihar on 15 September , eight years after she went missing.
The original FIR was registered at Anand Parbat police station on 14 October 2018 ; the girl was then 14 years old .
Searchers combed approximately 90 shelter homes and 52 orphanages across Delhi-NCR over the years before receiving a key tip.
A team led by Inspector Anil Yadav first pursued a lead in Kanpur, UP before tracking the girl to Samastipur, Bihar .
The girl was brought to Delhi on 17 September , medically examined, counselled, and her statement recorded under Section 183, BNSS .
She was subsequently handed over to her parents, reuniting the family after eight years .
The Delhi Police's Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the Central District has successfully traced and recovered a minor girl from Bihar's Samastipur district after eight years of sustained search efforts, officials confirmed on 20 September 2026. The long-pending case, originally registered at Anand Parbat police station, dates back to 14 October 2018, when the girl — then 14 years old and a resident of Anand Parbat in New Delhi — was reported missing and allegedly kidnapped.
Scale of the Search Operation
Over eight years, the AHTU team undertook what officials described as an extensive, multi-pronged effort to locate the girl. Investigators examined footage from multiple CCTV cameras and conducted physical searches across approximately 90 shelter homes for girls, 52 orphanages, religious places, and red-light areas spread across the Delhi-NCR region. Despite these efforts, her whereabouts could not initially be established, and the case remained unresolved for years.
The Breakthrough: Kanpur Lead and Bihar Trail
A few months ago, the team received a crucial tip-off indicating the girl might be present in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur. A dedicated team — comprising Sub-Inspector Raj Bahadur Singh, Head Constable Surender, and Woman Constable Manisha, working under the supervision of Inspector Anil Yadav, In-charge of the AHTU, and overseen by the ACP, DIU — was constituted and immediately travelled to Kanpur. On reaching the indicated location, the team learnt the girl had been moved shortly before their arrival.
Undeterred, the team developed additional local sources and continued tracking. Fresh information subsequently pointed to Samastipur district in Bihar. On 15 September, the team proceeded to Samastipur and, through sustained technical surveillance, field verification, and ground-level efforts, narrowed the search to Shahpur Patori. With assistance from the local police, the girl was successfully located and recovered from Patori.
Recovery, Medical Examination and Family Reunion
The recovered girl was brought back to Delhi on 17 September and produced for a medical examination. She was subsequently counselled, and her statement was recorded under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). After completion of all legal and procedural formalities, she was handed over to her parents — reuniting the family after eight years of separation.
Significance for Anti-Trafficking Efforts
This recovery is notable for its duration and the geographic spread of the search, spanning Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, and ultimately Bihar. The case underscores both the persistence required in long-pending missing-person investigations and the continued role of dedicated anti-trafficking units in pursuing cases that go cold. Notably, the AHTU's refusal to abandon the search even after the Kanpur lead went cold proved decisive. How the original case unfolded and who may be held accountable for the girl's alleged kidnapping in 2018 is expected to become clearer as the investigation progresses following her recovery.
Point of View
But it also raises an uncomfortable question: why did it take that long, and what allowed the alleged kidnapping to remain unresolved across multiple jurisdictions? The case is a credit to the AHTU's persistence, but it is also a window into how easily missing-minor cases — especially those involving inter-state movement — fall through administrative cracks. The sprawling trail from Delhi to Kanpur to Samastipur suggests a network that moved the girl ahead of investigators, and the investigation into who did so, and why, will matter as much as the recovery itself.
NationPress
20 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was the Delhi minor girl reported missing?
An FIR was registered at Anand Parbat police station in New Delhi on 14 October 2018, reporting the alleged missing and kidnapping of a minor girl who was then 14 years old and a resident of the Anand Parbat area. The case remained unresolved for eight years before the girl was located.
How did Delhi Police finally trace the missing girl?
The breakthrough came after the AHTU received a tip placing the girl in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Though she had been moved by the time the team arrived, continued surveillance and fresh information led investigators to Shahpur Patori in Bihar's Samastipur district, where she was recovered on 15 September with local police assistance.
What happened to the girl after she was recovered?
The girl was brought back to Delhi on 17 September and produced for a medical examination. She was then counselled, her statement was recorded under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and after legal formalities she was handed over to her parents.
Which team was responsible for recovering the missing girl?
The recovery was carried out by the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of Delhi Police's Central District. The field team comprised Sub-Inspector Raj Bahadur Singh, Head Constable Surender, and Woman Constable Manisha, working under Inspector Anil Yadav, In-charge of the AHTU, with overall supervision by the ACP, DIU.
How extensive was the search for the missing girl over eight years?
According to officials, the AHTU searched approximately 90 shelter homes, 52 orphanages, religious places, and red-light areas across Delhi-NCR, in addition to reviewing footage from multiple CCTV cameras. The trail eventually extended to Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh and then to Bihar's Samastipur district.
