The mystery of Delhi's missing girls

Reuters photographer Mansi Thapliyal spent time with the families of young girls who have gone missing in India's capital New Delhi, photographing them with their missing daughter's belongings.

Between January 1 and May 8, 2013, 725 children in Delhi were reported missing and are untraced, according to data from India's Zonal Integrated Police Network website.

Mansi, seven, poses with a photograph of her missing three-year-old sister Muskaan inside their house in New Delhi April 28, 2013. Muskaan went missing while playing in the neighbourhood on October 30, 2010, according to her family.

Between January 1 and May 8, 2013, 725 children in Delhi were reported missing and are untraced, according to data from India's Zonal Integrated Police Network website.

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Pannalal, 33, a construction worker, holds a photograph of his missing eight-year-old daughter Bhuriya as his wife Sheela, 30, stands inside their house in New Delhi April 28, 2013.

Bhuriya went missing from a weekly market near the family home on May 11, 2010, according to her family.

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Sheela, 30, poses with a woollen cap belonging to Bhuriya inside her house in New Delhi.

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Mehmun Khan, 30, holds up a dress she bought for her missing ten-day-old daughter, while sitting next to her son Imran (R) and daughter Nazia inside their house in New Delhi.

According to Khan, her daughter was abducted by a woman who fraudulently posed as a volunteer from a government welfare programmee.

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Chandravati, 30, poses with trousers belonging to her missing three-year-old daughter Muskaan inside her house in New Delhi. Muskaan went missing while playing in the neighbourhood on October 30, 2010,  according to her family.

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Hema Devi, 35, holds her son Sumit as she stands next to her daughter Sunita inside their house in New Delhi.

Devi's third daughter Kajal went missing while playing outside the family home on April 21, 2010, according to the family.

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Mamta, 32, poses with a dress belonging to her missing seven-year-old daughter Bharti inside her makeshift shelter in New Delhi.

According to Mamta, her daughter went missing on April 18, 2013, from a construction site where Mamta works and lives.

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Mamta sits with a relative inside a non-governmental organisation working for child rights in New Delhi.

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Dolls hang on a wall as Aanchal Gupta, 21, sister of missing fifteen-year-old girl Ambika, stands inside their house in New Delhi.

Ambika went missing from her home on October 10, 2010, according to her family.

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Sarita Gupta, 51, a yoga teacher, holds a doll belonging to Ambika inside her house in New Delhi.

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Rekha, 30, shows a picture of her missing seven-year-old daughter Deepali as she sits next to her son Shyam inside their house in New Delhi.

Deepali went missing from her school on November 25, 2010, according to her family.

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Shabra, 45, poses with a school notebook belonging to her missing ten-year-old daughter Atika.

Atika went missing while visiting a public toilet near her home on April 13, 2008, according to her family.

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Hema Devi, 35, holds a pair of school shoes belonging to her missing seven-year-old daughter Kajal. Devi's third daughter Kajal went missing while playing outside the family home on April 21, 2010, according to Devi.

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A poster of missing fifteen-year-old Ambika is pictured on a wall outside a police station in New Delhi April 24, 2013.

Ambika went missing from her home on October 10, 2010.

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Azhar, 51, and his wife Shabra, 45, parents of missing ten-year-old Atika, sit inside their house in New Delhi.

Atika went missing while visiting a public toilet close to her home on April 13, 2008, according to her family.

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A framed photograph of missing three-year-old Tyaba rests on a bed headboard at the family home in the old quarters of Delhi.

Tyaba went missing from a family friend's wedding reception on October 12, 2009, according to her parents.

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An album showing photographs of missing three-year-old Tyaba with her father Nadeem Khan (L) and her mother Rashma is pictured at the family home in the old quarters of Delhi .

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