Pithoragarh Police Traces 128 Lost Mobile Phones Worth ₹20 Lakh from Across India, Restores Them to Owners

Demonstrating high technical competence and dedication to public service, the Pithoragarh Police department has successfully traced and recovered 128 lost mobile phones worth approximately ₹20 lakh. The smartphones were formally handed back to their rightful owners during a special program organized at the District Police Headquarters. The initiative brought significant relief and satisfaction to local residents, tourists, and visitors who had lost hope of ever retrieving their valuable devices and personal data.

The recovery operation was initiated following multiple complaints lodged through online portals, offline applications, and the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) system across various police stations in the district. Recognizing the growing importance of personal mobile devices in daily life, Superintendent of Police (SP) Pithoragarh, Shri Akshay Prahlad Konde, constituted a specialized task force comprising members from the Surveillance Cell, the Special Operations Group (SOG), and local police stations to track down the missing devices.

Through systematic electronic monitoring and technical investigation, the police team discovered that many of these lost devices were active far beyond the borders of Uttarakhand. Traces led the surveillance team to several states across the country, including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana, as well as nearby districts such as Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, and Nainital. Following these leads, dedicated police teams were dispatched to these locations, successfully recovering the handsets and bringing them back to the district.

The successful execution of this nationwide technical operation was driven by key members of the surveillance unit. Under the leadership of Surveillance Cell In-Charge Inspector Neeraj Bhakuni, Sub-Inspector Hem Chandra Singh and Constable Kamal Tulera played pivotal roles in tracking the digital footprints, coordinating with out-of-state authorities, and physically securing the recovered devices.

At the formal handing-over ceremony hosted at the police office, SP Akshay Prahlad Konde personally presented the recovered mobile phones to their emotional owners. Present alongside the SP were Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Govind Ballabh Joshi, Cyber/Surveillance In-Charge Neeraj Bhakuni, Kotwali SHO Lalit Mohan Joshi, and members of the technical surveillance team. The citizens expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the entire Pithoragarh Police department for their relentless efforts and technical proficiency.

Speaking at the event, senior police officials reiterated the importance of reporting lost mobile devices immediately through official channels like the CEIR portal. By integrating modern digital tracking tools with proactive field operations, Pithoragarh Police continues to strengthen public trust and set a benchmark for responsive, citizen-centric policing across Uttarakhand.