The Government Railway Police (GRP) in Pune has achieved a remarkable feat by recovering 410 stolen cellphones valued at Rs 90 lakh and returning them to their rightful owners, many of whom live in distant parts of the country. The phones were reported lost over the past few years, and the GRP not only recovered them but also ensured they were handed back to the complainants, often traveling hundreds of kilometers to do so.
Operation to Recover Stolen Phones
Senior Inspector Pramod Khopikar of the GRP's Pune railway police station stated that most complainants were not local residents but hailed from far-flung states, including Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Assam, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and several other regions. Many victims had little hope of recovering their devices when they filed complaints at the railway police station.
Technical Surveillance and Tracking
The GRP team used advanced techniques such as technical surveillance, IMEI tracking, local intelligence, and sustained follow-ups to detect the crimes and apprehend the thieves. The recovered handsets had been lying in the muddemal room for up to 10 years. After obtaining permission from the court, the police began the process of returning them.
Doorstep Delivery Across India
Since many complainants lived hundreds of kilometers away, the GRP decided not to burden them with travel to Pune. Instead, constables traveled by train to personally deliver the recovered cellphones to the owners. Khopikar noted that many victims could not believe their stolen phones had been found and that the police had come all the way to return them.
The GRP still has over 1,000 cellphones that were found on platforms of the Pune railway station. The police have initiated the process to trace the owners of these handsets.
