Sanchar Saathi recovers over 77,000 stolen handsets in July

The Department of Telecommunications’ Sanchar Saathi initiative recovered 77,692 lost or stolen mobile handsets in July. This marks the first time the platform has exceeded 75,000 recoveries in a single month.

Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia attributed the milestone to increased public trust and improved coordination between the Department of Telecommunications, telecom service providers, and various state and Union Territory police departments. The recovery process involves the Digital Intelligence Unit and field units working with local police to trace devices.

The platform allows citizens to report lost or stolen phones via a web portal or mobile application. Once reported, devices are blocked on the Indian telecom network to prevent misuse. Through the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) system, users can track recovery status and receive details regarding the relevant police station via SMS or email. The initiative also provides tools to identify unauthorized mobile connections registered in a user's name and report fraudulent communications.