A day after reports claimed that 12 minor children went missing within 36 hours across Mumbai, the Mumbai Police on Monday issued a statement rejecting the claims and warning social media users against spreading rumours related to missing or abducted children.

In a post on X, the Mumbai Police said, “Some social media accounts are spreading false information and rumours regarding missing and abducted children. We completely deny these claims.”

The police added that the process has been initiated to register FIRs and take strict legal action against individuals deliberately circulating false information to create fear among the public.

The clarification came a day after Media reported that 12 minor children, including eight girls, had gone missing within a 36-hour span. The unusually high number had triggered concerns about the possible presence of organised child trafficking networks in the city.

While some cases were linked to family disputes or children running away from home, a human trafficking angle was suspected in others.

According to Mumbai Police records, 145 children went missing between June and December 2025, including 93 girls. Between November 1 and December 6 alone, 82 missing cases were registered, with adolescents accounting for more than half. These included 41 girls and 13 boys under 18. Police said several children were later traced and reunited with their families.

Chaos unfolded in Maharashtra’s Sangli on Sunday when an SUV ploughed into a crowd after ramming several vehicles on Tilak Road near the Ganpati Temple. According to reports, 11 people, including five police personnel, were injured in the incident.

The accused driver has been identified as Praniket Dattatrey Panchal from the Barshi Road area in Latur. The vehicle first hit several vehicles before ploughing into a crowded stretch where people were walking to attend the Krushnamai Festival.

After the incident, the driver was pulled out of the vehicle by an angry mob and assaulted. The crowd also vandalised the SUV.

The accused was later rescued by the police.

According to reports, the driver was under the influence of alcohol when incident occured. The injured were rushed to hospitals for treatment. Police stated that the driver has been booked and further investigation is underway.

Palghar: The police have successfully reunited a man with his family a decade after he went missing, following a special operation to reopen and solve long-pending cases, officials said on Sunday.

The man, identified as Praveen Pawar (39), had left his home in Palghar district in 2016 after a dispute with his parents. Since then, he remained untraceable, despite efforts by his family to locate him.

Pawar, who is originally from Ahilyanagar, was working at a hospital in Vikramgadh in Palghar district at the time he went missing. After leaving home, he cut off all contact with his family, leaving them uncertain about his whereabouts for nearly 10 years.

The breakthrough came under Operation Muskan-14, a special programme launched by Palghar Superintendent of Police Yatish Deshmukh to trace missing children and adults by revisiting old and unsolved cases. As part of the drive, police teams reopened Pawar’s case and began following fresh leads using modern investigative techniques.

Wada police station inspector Dattatray Kindre said Pawar was traced to Delhi on Saturday with the help of technical investigation, human intelligence, and social media tracking.

Police officials said formalities are currently being completed to ensure Pawar’s safe return and reunion with his parents. The case has been cited as a major success of Operation Muskan, highlighting how renewed investigation and technology can help solve long-forgotten missing person cases.