UP Police Inaction Under Spotlight as Allahabad HC Probes Missing Persons Crisis

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday took suo motu cognisance of the alarming number of missing persons in Uttar Pradesh , registering a public interest litigation (PIL) titled “In re: Missing Persons in the State” .

A division bench of Justices Abdul Moin and Babita Rani expressed serious concern over data showing that over 1.08 lakh people went missing in the state between January 1, 2024, and January 18, 2026 , while police action was initiated in only about 9,700 cases . No action was taken in the remaining complaints.

The court described the situation as “shocking” and criticized the lethargic attitude of the authorities , stating that complaints about missing persons “obviously require a sense of urgency.” The remarks came during the hearing of a criminal writ petition filed by Vikrama Prasad , whose son went missing in July 2024 , alleging police indifference in tracing him.

The bench sought a detailed affidavit from the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) and directed that the matter be listed for further hearing on February 5, 2026 . Observers note that while the figures indicate large-scale disappearances, it remains unclear how many are genuinely missing, migrated for work, or victims of possible criminal acts including trafficking , highlighting an urgent need for systematic police follow-up .

The court’s intervention underscores public safety concerns and could push authorities to strengthen mechanisms for tracing missing persons across the state.