Noida gripped by child kidnapping rumours days after '800 people missing in Delhi' claim sparked fear, parents forced to quit jobs, students stopped from going to schools

Just days after a viral claim that 800 people went missing in Delhi in the first two weeks of 2026, many villages in Noida are living under the fear of child kidnapping rumours. Though police have called it a hoax, many residents in Noida villages have stopped their children from going to school and have also quit their jobs. This wave of panic, amplified by viral social media posts, brings back memories of past incidents where misinformation triggered mob violence.