Police & notices
A family member is missing — a child, an adult, or an elderly person
Go to the police now. There is no rule that you must wait 24 hours. For a missing child, police must register an FIR at once.
Answer a few questions and get your list →What the law says
Police must accept a missing person report immediately. For a missing child, the Supreme Court has directed that an FIR be registered and investigated as a possible case of kidnapping or trafficking (Bachpan Bachao Andolan v. Union of India, 2013). Kidnapping and abduction are offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Missing and found children are listed on the Khoya-Paya / TrackChild portals. If you believe an adult is being held against their will, the High Court can be asked for a habeas corpus order.
General information, not legal advice.
Papers that usually help
- Recent clear photos
Circulated to police, stations and portals. - Description: height, clothes last worn, marks, languages spoken
Helps police and the public recognise them. - Their mobile number, IMEI if known, and social media accounts
Police can trace phone location. - Last place and time seen, and who they were with
Guides the search and CCTV checks. - Names and numbers of friends, relatives and anyone suspected
Police will question them. - ID proof and age proof (birth certificate for a child)
Age decides how the case is treated. - Medical conditions and medicines needed
Makes the search urgent. - Copy of the FIR / missing report with number
Needed for every follow-up. - Report on the Khoya-Paya / TrackChild portal
Child care homes check these lists.
Questions Saboot will ask you
- Who is missing?
- Since when?
- Do you suspect someone took them or they are in danger?
- Have you gone to the police?
Sources
- Khoya-Paya / TrackChild (missing children)
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
- NALSA — free legal aid
Common situations
- My child is missing
- Elderly parent with memory loss is missing
- Adult family member hasn’t returned for days
- Police won’t search for my missing family member
- Teenager ran away with someone
Also searched as: missing person, person missing, missing child, child missing, son missing, daughter missing, daughter ran away, husband missing, wife missing, father missing, mother missing, gumshuda