'Over 5K Women Missing In Maharashtra,' Says Anil Deshmukh

Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh yesterday, while addressing the state legislature during the second day of the monsoon session, raised the issue of over 5000 missing women and girls in the state.

Calling the development 'shocking' Deshmukh said, "In the period of five months from January 2023 to May 2023, 5610 women and girls have gone missing in the state." He further stated that Only in March 2023, about 2200 of them were reported missing, while an average of 70 women go missing in Maharashtra every day.

Anil Deshmukh On Missing Women In Maharashtra

राज्यातील बेपत्ता होणाऱ्या महिला व मुलींची संख्या अत्यंत धक्कादायक आहे. जानेवारी २०२३ ते मे २०२३ पाच महिन्यांच्या कालावधीत राज्यात ५६१० महिला व मुली बेपत्ता झाल्या आहेत. त्यापैकी मार्च महिन्यात जवळपास २२०० जणी बेपत्ता झाल्यात. महाराष्ट्रात दररोज सरासरी ७० महिला बेपत्ता होत आहेत.… pic.twitter.com/eiDiSwcJ6x

— ANIL DESHMUKH (@AnilDeshmukhNCP) July 18, 2023

Requesting strict action against the crime against women, Deshmukh said, "In light of this, the government is asked to focus on this problem during the current monsoon session." The former home minister filed an adjournment motion demanding a detailed discussion of this matter.

Alarming Numbers, Concerned Police

Maharashtra Police, earlier in the month of May this year released data concerning the same. According to the data, 3,594 women and girls between the ages of 16 and 35 went missing in Maharashtra between January 1 and March 31 of this year, with 383 of those missing from Mumbai alone. There were 183 cases of missing women in Ahmednagar, 169 in each Nagpur Rural and Nashik Rural, 156 in Pune Rural, and 148 in Pune City.

Maharashtra Women’s Commission Takes Cognizance

Describing the disappearance of women in the state as alarming, the Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women, Rupali Chakankar demanded the formation of a committee that will conduct a detailed investigation in the matter. She also urged the state to launch a search campaign.

In this regard, earlier on May 15, Ms. Chakankar, along with members of the commission, Gauri Chhabria and Suprada Phatarpekar, had met SIG of Police of Women and Child Crime Prevention Department, Deepak Pandey; Director General of Law and Order Police, Suhas Warke; DCP Dr. Swamy; the Joint Secretary of Home Department, Rahul Kulkarni; Deputy Secretary of Mahila Aayog, Deepa Thakur; and several other legal experts.

Suggested Reading: MP Girl, 19, Abducted And Gang Raped: Any State Safe For Women?