In a significant move to counter public alarm, the Delhi Police has officially dismissed recent reports claiming a massive surge in the number of missing girls in the national capital. The law enforcement agency has categorized these claims as misleading, asserting that the narrative is being artificially amplified through sponsored online posts. According to the police, the spread of this information is part of a coordinated effort involving paid promotions designed to create panic for monetary gain.
Misleading Claims and Paid Promotions
The controversy began when various reports and social media posts started circulating data that suggested a frightening spike in disappearances. The Delhi Police, however, conducted an investigation into the origin of these viral claims. Their findings revealed that the “hype” surrounding the missing girls was being intentionally pushed through paid advertisements on digital platforms.
In a statement released on X (formerly Twitter), the Delhi Police clarified that they have tracked several leads indicating that individuals or groups are profiting from the public’s fear. The department warned that creating such panic for financial incentives will not be tolerated and that strict legal action will be taken against those found responsible for orchestrating these campaigns.
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Dissecting the Viral Data
The reports that sparked the initial panic cited specific figures purportedly from Delhi Police records. These figures suggested that 807 people went missing in the city during the first fifteen days of 2026, between January 1 and January 15. This would have represented an average of approximately 54 missing person cases every day.
Breaking down these disputed numbers, the reports claimed that of the 807 individuals, 509 were women and girls, while 298 were men. Age-wise, the data alleged that 191 of the missing persons were minors, and 616 were adults. Further details circulating in the same dataset suggested that between January 1 and January 27, the police had traced only 235 individuals, leaving 572 still unaccounted for.
These viral posts also claimed that 181 people—consisting of 90 men and 91 women—had been located during that period, but maintained that 435 adults remained missing. The narrative sought to portray a city where people were disappearing at an alarming rate while the recovery pace lagged behind.
Official Clarification and Real Trends
Joint Commissioner of Police (Public Relations) Sanjay Tyagi has firmly dismissed these reports as “rumours.” He emphasized that the current trends in missing person cases are entirely in line with previous years. In a reassuring update, the Joint Commissioner noted that the month of January 2026 actually saw a decline in reported cases compared to the same period in previous years, directly contradicting the viral claims of a surge.
While the police have not yet released the complete updated official dataset for public viewing, they have maintained that the situation is under control and that the data being circulated is being taken out of context or manipulated to serve a specific agenda. The police department’s primary focus remains on debunking the “Lapataganj” narrative that has begun to take hold in political and social circles.
Political Friction Over Public Safety
The issue has quickly taken a political turn, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) using the circulated figures to criticize the central government and the Delhi Police. AAP leaders took to social media to claim that the national capital has been turned into a “Lapataganj”—a city of the missing.
In their critique, AAP highlighted the figure of 800 missing people within 15 days, specifically pointing out that 63% of these individuals were reportedly girls and women. This political pressure has added to the urgency with which the Delhi Police has sought to clarify the situation and expose the “paid promotion” behind the statistics.
A Call for Vigilance Against Misinformation
The Delhi Police has urged the residents of the national capital to remain calm and avoid falling prey to unverified social media posts. They have advised the public to rely only on official communiqués from the police department regarding matters of public safety.
By identifying the role of sponsored content in fueling this panic, the police are highlighting a new challenge in urban governance: the weaponization of data through digital marketing tools. Moving forward, the agency has pledged to maintain transparency while simultaneously cracking down on those who use paid promotions to spread misinformation and destabilize public order. For now, the message from the authorities is clear: there is no surge, but there is an active campaign of deception that citizens must navigate with caution.
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