New Delhi: Delhi Police’s Burari police station team has safely traced a missing 13-year-old girl and reunited her with her family under Operation Milap. Investigators examined footage from more than 100 CCTV cameras and pieced together clues from DTC buses, the Delhi Metro, an auto-rickshaw, UPI transactions and Instagram to establish the girl’s movements across several parts of the city.
The successful operation brought relief to the girl’s worried family after an extensive search spanning Nathupura, the Nirankari area, Kalkaji Temple, Kashmere Gate and Azadpur.
Missing Girl’s Disappearance Prompted Immediate Search
According to North District Deputy Commissioner of Police Niharika Bhatt, a woman from Nathupura in Burari reported that her 13-year-old daughter had been missing since the evening of October 22.
Burari police registered an FIR, numbered 765/2026, on October 23 under Section 137(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Given the sensitivity of the case, police immediately launched a search operation to locate the child.
CCTV Footage Reconstructed Her Journey Across Delhi
During the investigation, CCTV footage from the Nathupura area showed the girl walking towards a bus stop and boarding a DTC bus. Further examination revealed that she got off in the Nirankari area.
Following information provided by the family, investigators then focused on Kalkaji Temple. Footage from the area showed the missing girl accompanying another girl. The two subsequently reached the Kalkaji Mandir Metro Station and travelled by metro to Kashmere Gate, from where they hired an auto-rickshaw.
By connecting footage from multiple locations, the police team gradually reconstructed the route taken by the girls and narrowed down the search.
How Did UPI Transactions and Instagram Help Crack the Case?
CCTV footage helped investigators identify the auto-rickshaw’s registration number and trace its driver. During questioning, the driver reportedly told police that he had dropped both girls in Azadpur and received the fare through UPI.
The digital payment provided a crucial lead that helped investigators establish the identity of the other girl. Police then discovered an Instagram reel showing the second girl near a park in a nearby settlement in Azadpur.
Using this information, along with local inquiries and sustained search efforts, the team located the missing girl and ensured her safe recovery.
Fear Over a Phone Call Led the Girl to Leave Home
During questioning, the girl reportedly told police that she had accidentally called a boy on the phone and feared he might complain to her parents. Worried about the possible consequences, she left home.
She later met another girl at Kalkaji Temple and accompanied her. After completing the necessary legal formalities, police handed the child over to her family.
Police Team Played Key Role in the Operation
The operation was carried out under the leadership of DCP Niharika Bhatt, North District, with guidance from Assistant Commissioner of Police Manoj Kumar and supervision by Burari Station House Officer Inspector Girish Chandra Raturi.
The team was led by Sub-Inspector Vikas Phageria and included Assistant Sub-Inspectors Pramod and Sudhir Sangwan, Head Constables Sanjay, Mohit, Vishal, Chet Ram and Dharmendra, along with Constable Deepak.
Further investigation into the case is ongoing.
