Alert issued amid rumours of children going missing in Patna

Patna: Authorities in the state capital have raised an alarm following rumours of children going missing with unverified claims of child lifters spreading rapidly in recent weeks in the district.

District programme officer (DPO) for the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) in Patna issued an official letter directing all concerned officials to exercise extreme vigilance at anganwadi centres and pre-school facilities to protect young children from potential abduction attempts.The communication, addressed to child development project officers (CDPOs) and related staff, warned that child lifters could be operating in the area by disguising themselves as men or women and attempting to lure small children attending Anganwadi centres or nearby schools.The letter issued last week (Feb 21) stressed that such suspects may use deceptive methods to approach and take away children, making it essential to prevent any opportunity for such incidents. Officials were instructed to ensure that children were never left alone or unsupervised at any point. Special emphasis was placed on arrival and departure times when children came for pre-school education at anganwadi centres.

The directive clearly stated that children should only be handed over to their parents, legal guardians or properly authorised individuals after thorough verification. “No child is to be released to anyone without proper confirmation of identity and relationship,” it stated.DPO Mamta Verma, in the letter, emphasised that the information must be immediately communicated in writing to all female supervisors, Anganwadi workers and helpers so that everyone involved remained fully aware and alert.

The letter described the matter as extremely important and warned that any negligence or laxity in ensuring child safety would be viewed seriously, with strict action taken against those found responsible.Anganwadi centres, which provide early childhood care, nutrition and pre-school activities, especially for children from economically disadvantaged families, were identified as key locations requiring heightened security measures.

The administration, in coordination with the women and child development department, is closely monitoring the situation to prevent any untoward incidents.Recently, there has been a surge in rumours and panic about child lifters across Bihar, including Patna. These rumours have frequently led to mob violence against innocent people suspected of being involved in child theft. Multiple incidents in Patna and nearby areas involved locals assaulting individuals over unfounded suspicions, such as holding a child’s hand, distributing pamphlets or simply being present in public spaces.

Police intervened in several cases to rescue victims and hospitalise the injured.In Patna’s Abdullah Chak village under Gopalpur police station area, a youth was beaten by villagers on suspicion of child theft. Police rescued him and admitted him to hospital on Feb 23. No formal complaint of actual child abduction was filed.Similar mob attacks occurred in areas such as Gaurichak and Gopalpur, where rumours spread rapidly, but no verified child-lifting cases were confirmed.