Nagpur, Dec 13 (NationPress) The chief of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Raj Thackeray, raised alarm over the alarming rise in child abductions and missing children in Maharashtra. He called on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to implement decisive and prompt measures.

In a statement on X, Thackeray referenced data from the National Crime Records Bureau to highlight the gravity of the situation.

“As per the NCRB statistics, the incidents have surged nearly 30 percent from 2021 to 2024. Organized interstate gangs are now targeting young children, coercing them into labor or forcing them to beg on the streets. These groups are audaciously kidnapping very young kids, and it remains uncertain what actions the government is taking,” he remarked.

Thackeray emphasized that mere statistics do little to comfort families. “We in Maharashtra do not want a government response that merely states, ‘So many child abduction cases have been reported, with X percent of those children found and reunited with their families.’ Essentially, the figures from the NCRB only reflect how many parents have lodged complaints with law enforcement. But do even a few thousand of these complaints actually reach the police?” he questioned.

He also expressed worries regarding the long-term effects on rescued children. “Even if a child is eventually rescued and returned, what about the psychological trauma they endure during that time? More critically, how are these child-abducting gangs allowed to operate so boldly and without fear?” Thackeray stated.

Challenging the government’s commitment, the MNS leader questioned whether there was any urgency to tackle the problem. “When we see young children begging at railway stations or bus stops, who are they? Are the adults begging beside them truly their parents? Shouldn’t the government issue directives for investigations or even conduct DNA tests if necessary?” he queried.

Thackeray further emphasized that young children and girls are being abducted, while land in Maharashtra is being wrongly taken, and he asked whether these pressing matters should not be debated in the legislature, compelling the administration to take collective action.

He criticized the upcoming winter session of the Assembly, questioning its seriousness. “Is the winter session just a platform to pass supplementary demands to mask flawed budget estimates? Frequently, ministers are absent when answers are required. It seems unreasonable to expect discussions on critical issues like missing children or abducted girls. Yet, that is what Maharashtra anticipates,” he remarked.

Thackeray proposed a collaborative national strategy, stating, “Ideally, the central government should engage with all states to establish task forces. However, it seems unlikely that a central government preoccupied with heated discussions on ‘Vande Mataram’ will heed the pleas of distressed mothers,” he noted.

Addressing Fadnavis directly, he insisted, “As the Chief Minister and Home Minister of the state, we expect you not only to facilitate a discussion on this matter during the session but also to take tangible action.”