Pamba Police Recover 102 Lost Phones During Sabarimala Pilgrimage Using CEIR Tech
PATHANAMTHITTA: In a major tech-driven success, Pamba police have recovered 102 mobile phones lost during the recent Mandala Makaravilakku pilgrimage at Sabarimala.
The recovery was made possible using the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal, which blocks and tracks lost devices via IMEI numbers. Of the 230+ complaints received, 25 high-value phones worth ₹6.5 lakh were recovered in May alone.
A dedicated cyber help desk, staffed by 12 trained officers, played a central role. Once phones were blocked, alerts were sent automatically to both the complainants and the police when the devices were switched on.
Most recovered phones were traced to Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and surprisingly, northern and northeastern states. Hotspots included Theni, Cumbum, and Coimbatore - now under police radar for second-hand phone resales.
The help desk even made multilingual calls requesting return of recovered devices, boosting public cooperation. Officials say this tech-driven model will be continued in future pilgrimage seasons.
Police advised the public to verify IMEI numbers before buying used phones to avoid unknowingly purchasing stolen items.