While the issue of the missing children of Nithari continues to be in the headlines, as many as 132 children have gone missing in Kanpur in the past five years and police have failed to collect any information about them.

The "lost and found cell" of district police situated in the Kotwali police station in Kanpur under a senior superintendent of police has a figure of 132 children missing during the past five years, including 97 males and 35 females below the age of 16 years.

Senior Superintendent of Police Alok Singh told PTI he had no information about the missing children and had deployed a team of superintendents of police to collect information.

According to data provided by the "lost and found cell", 64 boys and 32 girls under the age of 16 went missing in 2006.

Of them, 17 were still missing, while the remaining returned to their homes either due to the efforts of their parents or by themselves.

A police officer, on condition of anonymity, told PTI the actual figure was much higher.

"When any parent goes to lodge a report about a missing child, they are sent back because no one wants to increase the figure of missing children," he claimed.

According to figures provided by the cell during 2005, 8 boys and 4 girls went missing.

In 2004, 21 boys and 4 girls went missing and in 2003 the number was 24 boys and 7 girls.

During 2002, 27 boys and 13 girls went missing.

Police have no information about them. Singh said he has directed a team of SSPs of Kanpur (E), Kanpur (W), and rural areas to gather details and would be able to give details only after receiving their report.