Ahmedabad Crime Branch returns 410 lost mobile phones worth Rs 63.15 lakh to owners
Ahmedabad, June 16
The Ahmedabad Crime Branch on Tuesday traced and returned 410 lost mobile phones worth more than Rs 63 lakh to their rightful owners as part of the 'Tera Tujh Ko Arpan' programme, a property restitution initiative aimed at reuniting citizens with recovered belongings.
Police said mobile phone thefts, snatchings and cases of misplaced devices continue to be reported across different parts of Ahmedabad.
In response to the large number of complaints relating to lost mobile phones, the Crime Branch launched a dedicated drive to trace missing devices and return them to their owners.
During the campaign, investigators used data available through the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal along with technical intelligence and tracking methods to locate the devices.
The Crime Branch said it successfully traced and recovered 410 mobile phones, valued at Rs 63,15,908.
After recovering the phones, officers identified and contacted the owners through technical verification.
The owners were subsequently invited to the City Crime Branch office, where the devices were formally handed back under the "Tera Tujh Ko Arpan" programme.
According to the Crime Branch, the recovered devices were returned to their rightful owners after their identities and ownership details were verified.
The recovery effort reflects the growing use of the CEIR system, a central government platform that enables authorities to block, track and trace lost or stolen mobile phones through their IMEI numbers.
The Department of Telecommunications' CEIR dashboard reports that more than 33 lakh mobile phones have been traced nationwide, and over 53 lakh devices have been blocked through the system.
The "Tera Tujh Ko Arpan" initiative has been adopted by the police department to return recovered property to citizens.
In Gujarat, the programme was launched to facilitate the speedy return of recovered assets and seized property to rightful owners, reducing delays that often occur during investigations and legal proceedings.
State authorities have previously reported the return of assets worth more than Rs 500 crore to tens of thousands of citizens through the initiative.
Officials said the Ahmedabad operation formed part of ongoing efforts to use technology-driven policing tools to trace lost property and reconnect citizens with their belongings.
— IANS
Reader Comments
63 lakhs worth of phones returned! That's impressive. But why does it take a special drive? Shouldn't tracking stolen phones be routine police work? 🤔
'Tera Tujh Ko Arpan' - beautiful name for a noble initiative. In a city like Ahmedabad where snatching is common, this gives hope to common people. Well done, Crime Branch! 🙏
Good initiative, but 410 phones is a drop in the ocean. In Ahmedabad alone, thousands of phones get stolen every month. Need more awareness about CEIR and faster action. Still, better than nothing.
I'm from the US and it's great to see Indian police using tech like this. In many countries, stolen phones are never recovered. This program sets a good example for others. Kudos to the team! 😊
Rs 500 crore returned across Gujarat? That's amazing! But I hope the verification process isn't too cumbersome for ordinary citizens. Many elderly people might struggle with documentation. Let's make it simpler. 🧐
Yeh toh bahut achha kaam hai! (This is very good work!) My cousin got his phone stolen in Maninagar last
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