Missing at 6, found at 23: Police reunite Delhi man with family

In a heartwarming reunion, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of Haryana Police has reunited a 23-year-old man with his family after 17 years. The man, Arif Khan, had gone missing from Delhi when he was just six years old.

Through persistent efforts by the State Crime Branch’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit in Panchkula, Arif was traced and brought back to his family.

The unit received information about Arif’s case and discovered that he had been found abandoned in Gurugram in 2008. Since then, he had been living at the Balgram Rai institution, where he completed an ITI (Industrial Training Institute) course and is now in the final year of his Bachelor of Arts degree.

With no recollection of his home, tracing his origins was a challenge. However, during the investigation, officials found a missing person report for Arif at Kapashera Police Station, Delhi, dated June 12, 2008. Using this lead, the team conducted inquiries at multiple locations and eventually located his family in Sangam Vihar, Delhi.

To confirm his identity, the police verified all documents and arranged a video call with his family. Arif’s mother immediately recognised him, pointing out a scar on his forehead as proof. After completing formalities, Arif was finally reunited with his parents on March 24, 2025.

His father, Ehsan, said, “My son had gone out to buy a candy in 2008 but never returned. We searched everywhere but had lost all hope.”

The emotional reunion took place in the presence of Additional Director General of Police, State Crime Branch, Mamta Singh. Overwhelmed with joy, Arif’s family expressed their gratitude to the Haryana Police for their relentless efforts.

Commending the team’s dedication, ADGP Mamta Singh urged parents to ensure their children have Aadhaar cards and to update them regularly to help prevent such incidents.