Mysuru district police have successfully recovered nearly 1,000 smartphones that were either lost or stolen from residents, utilizing the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) system. The recovered devices have been returned to their rightful owners.
Details of the Recovery Operation
Superintendent of Police Mallikarjun Baladandi informed reporters on Tuesday that the phones were traced from various locations across India, with a significant number recovered from Kerala and Maharashtra. The CEIR portal enables tracking of a reported device once it is put to use anywhere in the country. When a stolen phone is activated with a new SIM card, the new number is displayed to the police, who then contact the user and inform them that the device is stolen. The user is instructed to send the phone to the nearest police station. According to the SP, more than 50% of the users comply with this directive to avoid legal complications, although many others switch off the device.
Year-wise Recovery Statistics
In 2024, the police recovered approximately 300 phones out of 2,315 cases registered on the CEIR portal. In 2025, 372 phones were recovered against 1,336 cases. So far in 2026, 285 phones have been recovered from 1,075 registered cases. Efforts are ongoing to trace the remaining devices, the SP added.
A Heartfelt Acknowledgment
Raghu, a truck driver who lost his phone worth Rs 25,000 in February, was overjoyed to receive his device on Monday. He expressed gratitude to the police for their diligent efforts in recovering his phone.
