Jharkhand: Palamu police recover 104 missing mobile phones, return them to owners
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Daltonganj: In a confidence-building initiative aimed at strengthening public trust in law enforcement, Palamu Police on Saturday returned…
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj: In a confidence-building initiative aimed at strengthening public trust in law enforcement, Palamu Police on Saturday returned 104 missing mobile phones to their rightful owners during a ceremony held at the Superintendent of Police (SP) office in Daltonganj.
The programme was organised in line with a directive issued by Jharkhand Director General of Police (DGP) Tadasha Mishra, who has instructed all district Superintendents of Police to hold a ‘Return of Missing Mobile Phones’ programme on the 25th of every month. The initiative seeks to reinforce public confidence in the police while ensuring that recovered mobile phones are handed back to their owners promptly.
DGP’s Monthly Initiative to Build Public Trust
Speaking on the occasion, Palamu SP Kapil Chaudhary appreciated the DGP’s initiative, saying it has strengthened the relationship between the police and the public. He said the recovered mobile phones were traced using the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) system, which enables police to locate and recover active missing devices.
Police officials said recovering missing phones is often a challenging task, particularly when the devices have changed hands multiple times or have moved outside the state. They noted that while many owners are delighted to recover their phones, some also expect legal action against those who possessed or used the devices after they went missing. However, officials explained that pursuing every such case could lead to an overwhelming number of criminal cases, defeating the primary objective of returning lost property to citizens.
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Twenty Owners Collect Recovered Phones
Around 20 people, including three women, collected their recovered mobile phones during Saturday’s programme. One of the beneficiaries was a woman constable posted in Palamu, who said she had lost her phone in May this year and had little hope of getting it back.
Another recipient from Chainpur recovered his mobile phone after nearly three years. Although relieved to receive the device, he expressed disappointment over its condition, claiming it had been used extensively during the intervening period.
One police officer present at the event remarked that while recovering a phone brings relief to its owner, some recipients remain dissatisfied because they expect action against those who used the device after it went missing.
Rehla Police Station Tops Recovery List
According to police, Rehla Police Station recorded the highest number of recoveries, returning 14 mobile phones. No recoveries were reported during this round from Pipra, Hussainabad, Mohammadganj, Parwa, Manatu and Pandu police stations.
SP Chaudhary said Palamu Police had recovered 104 missing mobile phones over the past two months, reflecting sustained efforts by police teams across the district.
SP Urges Public to Stay Vigilant
The SP said complaints about missing mobile phones are received almost every day across Palamu’s 19 police stations. He urged residents to remain vigilant and take extra care of their mobile phones, especially in crowded public places.
He also observed that men account for a higher number of missing mobile phone complaints than women. The SP added that only active and functional mobile phones can be traced and recovered through the CEIR system, while switched-off, damaged or inactive devices remain difficult to locate.
