Noida cops to use social media in operation to find missing kids

The second leg of ‘Operation Muskan’ that traces missing children will use social media as an important tool to reunite the children with their families.

The second leg of operation Muskan that traces missing children will use social media as an important tool to reunite the children with their families, the police said.

In the first leg of operation Muskan, the Nodia police traced 411 missing children. (HT File Photo)

The Noida police have formed 22 teams with three police personnel each in order to conduct the operation, which will be kicked off on July 31, at a nation wide level following the directions of the central government, the police said. Each team will have one sub-inspector and two constables.

In the first leg of operation Muskan, the Noida police traced 411 missing children. This time, the operation has been named Muskan-2. The operation will also include arrangements for reuniting children with their families.

“Last time, we did not use social media to reunite the children with their parents and everything was done manually, which was a mistake. We have learned from it now. This time, we have put at least one police personnel, who is well versed with social media and the internet, in each team. This will prove to be a powerful resource for us,” Vishwajeet Srivastava, additional superintendent of police (crime), Noida, said.

He said that many children who were rescued during the last operation have still not been reunited with their families. However, he said this time with the help of social media, the police hope to reunite all children who are found.

On Sunday, Srivastava held a briefing session with the police teams in order to give tips and train them for the operation that aims to trace 70 missing children from Noida since 2007.

“The police personnel were told that apart from looking for the missing children at railway station, bus depots, temples and dharamshalas, they should also keep an eye on eateries and restaurants in the city where these children may be forcefully employed,” Srivastava said at the briefing held at sector 14 A police station.