"223 Smiles Restored: The Untold Story of Two Delhi Cops Who Refused to Give Up"

In an age where headlines are often dominated by crime and conflict, the story of ASIs Nirdesh Panwar and Rajdeep offers a rare and moving glimpse into what relentless dedication, compassion, and modern policing can achieve. In just 11 months, these two officers of the Delhi Police’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) have reunited 223 missing children with their families—a feat that spans across eight Indian states and more than 70 police jurisdictions.

The mission began not with a grand plan, but with a deep personal commitment. For both officers, the eyes of their own children became the driving force behind their pursuit of lost ones. “The pain of a parent searching for their child is something you feel in your bones,” said ASI Panwar. This empathy became the fuel for a journey that often started at dawn and ended well past dusk.

Armed with just a faded photograph, an old FIR, or a name lost in time, Panwar and Rajdeep used a combination of traditional legwork and cutting-edge technology. Their toolkit included facial recognition software, call detail records (CDRs), CCTV footage, and social media traces. They combed through databases like CCTNS and ZIPNET each morning, looking for threads to follow. Once a potential lead emerged, they contacted families—though even this was often difficult, as many phone numbers were outdated or addresses no longer valid.

One of the most extraordinary cases involved a girl missing since 2017. Then just 15, her trail had gone cold. Her family had nearly lost hope—until this year, when Panwar and Rajdeep traced her to Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, using sparse digital clues. She is now 22, and the reunion left no eye dry.

In another heart-stopping incident, they tracked a 14-year-old girl to Jammu within hours of learning she had boarded a train. With no time to lose, they boarded a late-night train to Jammu, and by morning, they had found her sitting alone on a station bench. She was safely reunited with her family that very day.

The work was anything but easy. Language barriers, harsh terrain, incomplete data, and the mental toll of dealing with emotionally charged situations never deterred them. “Sometimes all we have is one blurry image or an old clue. But we follow it like it’s the only thing that matters—because to that child’s family, it is,” said ASI Rajdeep.

Their consistent record of success led to out-of-turn promotions for both officers, a rare and significant honor in Indian policing. ASI Rajdeep has rescued 112 children, and ASI Panwar, 111—a tally that stands as testament to their unwavering resolve.

In a world desperately in need of real heroes, ASIs Rajdeep and Panwar remind us that courage doesn’t always wear a cape. Sometimes, it wears a uniform, carries a dossier, and walks door to door with a picture, looking for the one moment that can change a life forever.