THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the wake of the human sacrifice that rocked the state, police chief Anil Kant ordered a re-examination of all the women and children missing cases registered so far in the state. The last official estimate of the police in this regard is in 2018.

Of the 7,530 women who went missing that year, 7,350 were found. 180 are yet to be found. Police haven't obtained any information about them. 788 children have also gone missing.

District police chiefs should review the missing cases within 48 hours and inform the higher officials. The progress of the investigation will be evaluated by making a new list excluding those who have died and those who have returned. In all suspicious cases, it is directed to report to the court and conduct a re-investigation after obtaining permission. The Home Department also directed the DGP to conduct a detailed inquiry in all the districts.

According to police records, more than 7500 women go missing in Kerala every year. The vast majority of these are romances and subsequent elopements. There are 137 cases of abduction of women. There are no figures or cases of missing migrant women.

Police were able to find 1834 out of 1890 children who went missing in 2018. In 2016-18, 4421 children, including 2218 girls, went missing.

Meanwhile, according to the Juvenile Justice Board, out of 1217 children who went missing in the last one year, 1184 have been found. There is no information about 33 missing children.

Most of the women and children went missing from areas under Thiruvananthapuram rural limits. Less in Wayanad. Most of these children belong to the 12-18 age group. So far, the investigation into missing children cases was focused on the begging mafia. The police headquarters stated that they will investigate the possibility of human sacrifice.