Gurdaspur police return lost cellphones to owners

The Gurdaspur police recovered 101 mobile phones and returned them to their owners at a function held in the SSP office here on Wednesday.

The owners were an elated lot. Many of them opined that it was important for them to get their lost phones back. “The device holds a person’s digital identity, memories of varied kinds and personal connections. Hence, we were eagerly waiting for the police to recover our lost phones so that we get our lost identity back,” said Varinder Kumar, a recipient.

SSP Aditya, who presided over the proceedings in the presence of senior officers, said, “At one time or the other in the past, these people had either misplaced their phones or someone had stolen them. Beyond the monetary value, the true loss is the photos of forgotten moments, the messages that capture a time in your life, and the digital access to your banking and social networks,” he said.

Police sources reveal that tracing a lost device is not a simple duty. It requires untiring follow-ups, advanced technical tracking and coordination with telecom service providers and hours of ground verification. Once a phone’s digital footprint is traced, teams often have to reach out to distant districts and even other states to secure recovery,” said a senior officer.