Nagpur: In a major citizen-centric initiative, the Zone 5 of Nagpur City Police returned 221 lost and stolen mobile phones worth Rs 41,98,054 to their rightful owners during a special event held at Pardi Police Station on Monday.

The recovery drive was carried out under the leadership of Nagpur Police Commissioner Dr. Vishwas Nangre Patil across police stations falling under Zone 5. The recovered mobile phones had been reported missing and were traced through sustained efforts by the police.

According to police, the recovered handsets included:

• Kalmana Police Station: 77 mobile phones worth Rs 16.20 lakh
• Yashodhara Nagar Police Station: 31 mobile phones worth Rs 5.54 lakh
• Pardi Police Station: 40 mobile phones worth Rs 6.60 lakh
• Wathoda Police Station: 73 mobile phones worth Rs 13.64 lakh

In total, 221 mobile phones valued at Rs 41,98,054 were successfully traced and handed over to their original owners. The recipients expressed happiness and appreciation for the police efforts, with many describing the recovery as a significant relief.

Police Appeal to Citizens

Nagpur City Police urged citizens to immediately register lost or stolen mobile phones on the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal or report the incident to the nearest police station. Prompt reporting helps authorities block stolen devices, prevent misuse, and improve the chances of recovery.

The police also appealed to the public to refrain from consuming or selling illegal gutkha and tobacco products and to report any illegal activities by dialling 112. Officials called upon citizens to cooperate with the police in ensuring a safer and healthier society.

Senior Officers Present

The programme was conducted in the presence of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 5) Nityanand Jha and under the supervision of Police Commissioner Dr. Vishwas Nangre Patil, Joint Commissioner of Police Navinchandra Reddy, and Additional Commissioner of Police (South Region) Vasant Pardeshi.

Also present were Assistant Commissioner of Police Rohit Owhad, along with senior police inspectors Yunus Sheikh (Yashodhara Nagar), Nanda Mangate (Pardi), Pravin Kale (Kalmana), Pramod Pore (Wathoda), and Nitin Charde (Bhandewadi).

The successful recovery operation was executed by the Zone 5 Mobile Missing Squad, comprising police personnel including Kunal, Dhanraj, Ramchandra, Mahendra, Ashish Piparhete, and Pravin, among others.

Around 300 citizens and members of the media attended the event, where beneficiaries thanked the Nagpur Police for recovering and returning their lost mobile phones. The initiative highlights the city’s continued focus on leveraging technology and coordinated policing to improve public service and strengthen citizens’ trust in law enforcement.