KANPUR, Sept. 23 -- At least 26 listed history-sheeters have gone missing from six police stations under Ghatampur police circle in Kanpur, raising questions over surveillance of hardened criminals. Police data shows the circle currently maintains 290 open history-sheets, of which 18 offenders are confirmed dead, while nearly 10%, 26 criminals, remain untraceable despite the requirement that they be under constant watch.

The Saand police station accounts for the highest number of absconders, with nine names missing from its list. Other stations in the circle also report offenders untraceable for years, indicating that the surveillance mechanism designed to deter repeat crimes is faltering.

Additional DCP (South) Yogesh Kumar confirmed t...