In a notable accomplishment, the Udupi Town Police have successfully traced and returned 27 lost phones to their rightful owners, with an estimated total value of ₹4.5 lakh. The operation was conducted using the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal—an initiative by the Government of India aimed at tracking and recovering lost or stolen mobile devices.
The recovery drive was spearheaded by Inspector Manjunath V Badiger, assisted by Sub-Inspectors Puneeth Kumar B E, Eranna Shiragumpi, Bharatesh Kankanawadi, and Gopalakrishna Jogi, along with technical support from PC Vinay Kumar and the station’s IT team.
Citizens had lodged complaints via the Karnataka State Police (KSP) app, after which the phones were blocked and tracked through the CEIR system. This allowed the police to pinpoint the devices’ locations and recover them.
So far in 2025, Udupi Town Police have retrieved 32 mobile phones, all of which have been handed back to their respective owners.
A formal handover ceremony was held on April 9, 2025, at the Udupi Town Police Station, where the 27 phones were officially returned. The event was presided over by DySP Prabhu D T, along with Inspector Badiger and his team of sub-inspectors.
This successful operation underscores the effectiveness of the CEIR portal and the dedication of the Udupi police in protecting citizens’ property and promoting digital safety.