As many as 1,580 lost or stolen mobile phones have been successfully recovered, bringing relief to their owners, thanks to the Central Equipment Identity Register System (CEIR) which was introduced last year.
The CEIR system is a citizen-friendly initiative that was launched by the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications in May 2023 empowers individuals to safeguard their mobile devices and take swift action in case of theft or loss. The CEIR system can be accessed through the Sanchar Saathi portal (www.sancharsaathi.gov.in). It is integrated with the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS), ensuring efficient information sharing. It also facilitates reporting, blocking, unblocking, and tracing of IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) numbers for lost or stolen mobile devices across the entire country.
Additional Director General of Police in T.N. Sanjay Kumar said both law enforcement agencies and the public can request the blocking of IMEI numbers associated with stolen or lost devices. Within 24 hours, the blocked IMEI becomes unusable, rendering the handset inaccessible to any other user. When any SIM card is inserted into a device with a blocked IMEI, the network provider receives an immediate notification. This information is then relayed to the police and the victim. Additionally, network providers share location details and mobile numbers with law enforcement officials, aiding in the recovery of lost or stolen mobiles, he said.
