60 girls, including 20 minors, flee homes over social media & love affairs in 5 months

In Moradabad district, 60 girls have left their homes in the last five months due to issues related to social media, romantic relationships, and family disputes. Of these, 20 are minors. Police have recovered several of these girls, but some have refused to return to their families. Several adult girls insisted on living with their partners.

Investigations by the police revealed that many girls established relationships through social media platforms or phone calls. Families imposed restrictions after discovering these connections, which reportedly led to some girls leaving home. Ten of the girls reportedly took cash, jewelry, and other valuables when they left. Two students left town to make social media reels, with one obtaining school leave by claiming a grandmother's death.

The missing girls were reported from multiple police station areas across the district. Initially, families tried to locate the girls themselves due to fear of social stigma. When these efforts failed, they filed missing persons reports with the police. Authorities then collected call detail records, confirming prolonged communication between the girls and the young men involved.

Recently, four more girls went missing, with cases registered following complaints by their families. A girl from Thakurdwara village reportedly left home without informing anyone on May 19. Her father filed a case accusing a local man of luring her with a promise of marriage. Another 14-year-old girl from the same area went missing after being scolded for poor academic performance.

In one case, police registered a report after a man named Jasveer was accused by a father of taking his daughter away. Another 13-year-old girl from Majhola police station area went missing on May 19, with her father filing a case against unknown persons. The police have initiated searches and investigations in these cases.

A separate case from Thakurdwara involves the alleged abduction of a 29-year-old woman by two men, Vijaypal Singh and Mahendra Singh, who reportedly promised marriage to lure her away. The police have filed reports against the accused, questioned one suspect, and later released him. The case has now reached the High Court.