Nagpur Police Reunite Citizens with Lost Mobile Phones in Major Recovery Drive
In a heartwarming turn of events, Kanchan Mhaske, a housewife from Nagpur, experienced immense joy as she was reunited with her mobile phone nearly one year after it went missing. The device, which was a special gift from her husband following the birth of their second son in 2023, holds irreplaceable value due to the over 12,000 family photographs stored on it, including cherished memories from their Sikkim tour.
The Journey of Loss and Recovery
The handset was lost on January 18 last year while the family was returning home from the hospital after treatment for their elder son. Despite the passage of time, hope was rekindled when Zonal DCP Niketan Kadam, along with key police officials, organized a special event at Kalamna police station on Saturday to return 192 recovered mobile phones to their rightful owners. The collective worth of these devices is estimated to be around 40 lakh rupees, with cases spanning six different police stations in the region.
Proactive Steps by Citizens and Police
Kanchan's husband, Sachin Mhaske, who works in the insurance sector, took immediate action by informing the Yashodhara Nagar police station and updating the lost information on the national portal. His efforts didn't stop there; upon learning through the portal that the phone was located in Telangana, he took to social media, tweeting and tagging both Hyderabad and Maharashtra police to escalate the matter.
Another beneficiary of this initiative was electrician Rahul Bondre, who had lodged a complaint about his lost phone in April 2024 and had nearly given up hope of its recovery. When police contacted him in December 2025 to inform him about the retrieval, his initial reaction was one of disbelief, suspecting a potential scam. "It was beyond my belief that the cops could actually retrieve the handset. Initially, I disbelieved," he shared, highlighting the surprise and gratitude felt by many.
Police Appeal and Technological Leverage
DCP Kadam emphasized the importance of citizen cooperation in such cases, stating, "Police appealed to citizens to immediately register and block lost or stolen mobiles on the CEIR portal or report to the nearest police station to prevent misuse and facilitate quick recovery." This appeal underscores the critical role of technology in modern policing efforts.
The breakdown of recovered phones includes 70 devices from Yashodhara Nagar worth approximately 19 lakh rupees, 44 from Pardi valued at 6 lakh rupees, and 39 from Wathoda with an estimated worth of 9 lakh rupees. The event saw the presence of key officers such as assistant commissioner Rohit Ovad, and senior PIs including Sandeep Buwa from Yashodhara Nagar, Sunilkumar Kakade from Pardi, Pravin Kale from Kalamna, and Harishkumar Borade from Wathoda, along with their dedicated staff.
A Testament to Public Service Commitment
Reflecting on the initiative, DCP Kadam remarked, "This initiative highlights Nagpur police's commitment to leveraging technology and teams for public service." The successful recovery and return of these mobile phones not only restore valuable property to citizens but also reinforce trust in law enforcement's ability to utilize digital tools for community benefit.
This story serves as a powerful reminder of how persistence, technology, and collaborative efforts between the public and police can lead to positive outcomes, turning moments of loss into celebrations of recovery.
