Bhubaneswar: In a significant boost for mobile phone users, the Odisha Police announced the recovery of 110 lost and stolen mobile phones during a month-long operation in Koraput district, with the devices being returned to their owners on Wednesday.

This initiative was conducted by four police stations within the Jeypore Sub-Division, prompted by numerous complaints from individuals about missing or stolen mobile phones. Through thorough investigations and technical tracking methods, officers were able to locate and recover the phones from various locations before returning them to their respective owners.

Officials reported that the Jeypore Police Station was the most successful in this operation, recovering 50 devices, while the Borigumma Police Station accounted for 25. The remaining 35 phones were retrieved by the other police stations within the Jeypore Sub-Division.

Archita Mittal, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Jeypore, indicated that the recoveries were facilitated by the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal, a centralized system designed to trace and disable lost or stolen mobile phones.

“When a mobile phone is lost or stolen, individuals can file a report on the CEIR portal by entering the necessary information. If a new SIM card is activated on the stolen device, the system issues an alert, allowing us to track the phone. This technology enabled us to successfully locate and recover the mobile phones, which have now been returned to their owners,” she explained.

The police emphasized the importance of promptly reporting lost or stolen mobile phones through the CEIR portal, highlighting that timely registration greatly enhances the likelihood of recovery.

Those who had their mobile phones returned expressed their appreciation to the police, sharing their joy at recovering their devices after initially losing hope.