A TOTAL OF 96 PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN KIDNAPPED WERE GIRLS AND THE MAJORITY OF THESE WERE HINDUS. NEARLY HALF (46 PERCENT) OF THE CHILDREN WERE WILLING VICTIMS. MOTIVES FOR KIDNAPPING VARY. VICTIMS WERE OFTEN EXPLOITED BY ABDUCTORS AND FORCED INTO PROSTITUTION (3.4 PERCENT), SELLING (4.5 PERCENT) OR BEGGING (4.5 PERCENT), EMPLOYMENT AND BOOTLEGGING (51.6 PERCENT), SEXUAL ACTIVITY WITH ABDUCTOR (29.1) PERCENT), AND DOMESTIC HELP (3.4 PERCENT). A SMALL NUMBER (3.5 PERCENT) OF KIDNAPPINGS WERE MOTIVATED BY VENGEANCE. THE CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS WERE INTERVIEWED SEPARATELY BY PROBATION OFFICERS. AMONG THE CHILDREN, THERE WAS A HIGH NUMBER OF SCHOOL DROPOUTS; PARENTS WERE OFTEN ILLITERATE WITH LITTLE INTEREST IN THE CHILD'S EDUCATION, OR IN THE CHILD HIMSELF. EXTREME POVERTY, BROKEN HOMES, ANTISOCIAL SURROUNDINGS WERE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHILD'S PRE-KIDNAPPING ENVIRONMENT. THESE TYPES OF CONDITIONS CAUSED CHILDREN TO LEAVE HOME AND BECOME EASY PREY FOR KIDNAPPERS. THOUGH MOST OF THESE KIDNAPPED CHILDREN WERE RESCUED, CONSIDERABLE TIME WAS NEEDED BEFORE THEY COULD BE REHABILITATED AND RESTORED TO THEIR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS. THE PAPER CONCLUDES THAT THE GRAVITY OF THE PROBLEM OF KIDNAPPING IN INDIA IS AN IMPORTANT SOCIAL AND JUDICIAL PROBLEM. TABLES AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (MJW)