(1) Whenever a Station House officer receives any information from which he reasonably suspects that any person is missing and there are circumstances to believe that, -

(a) Such person is in danger or not under the protection of lawful guardianship, or

(b) Such person may be subjected to some dangerous offence, or

(c) Such person is absconding himself to prevent someone from implementing a lawful right declared by any court,

Such officer shall register the information in a manner similar to the procedure prescribed for a cognizable offence and take immediate action to locate the missing person.

(2) During such enquiries such officer or any officer deputed by him may examine and record the statement of any witness and search any place.

(3) All persons shall answer truthfully to any question by a Police Officer enquiring this matter and a copy of such statement recorded by that officer shall be given to the witness and after getting such copy, the witness shall sign and acknowledge that such copy has been received.

(4) All searches under this section shall be done in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act 2 of 1974)

(5) The missing person if found on enquiry shall forthwith be handed over to the responsible guardian or produced before the Magistrate having jurisdiction.

(6) Where the person so produced is a women or a child the Magistrate shall take such steps as are needed to safeguard the privacy and interest of that person.