Tracing stolen and lost mobile phones from trains and railway premises has now become easier for Railway Protection Force (RPF) of N.F. Railway (NFR).
Once passenger reports their lost or theft mobile phones in the Rail Madad App; Cyber Crime Wing of NFR facilitates tracing the mobile with the help of Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal of Department of Telecommunications (DoT). As of now, the portal is helping in tracing such lost devices across telecom service networks of Assam.
Principal Chief Security Commissioner (PCSC)/NFR coordinated with CID team, Assam Police and Department of Telecommunication of Guwahati to chalk out the access plan for CEIR for NFR. Representative from PCSC office of NFR coordinated with concerned officials of the Ministry of Communication at New Delhi.
Since May, 2024, RPF of NFR started operations by uploading the details of lost/stolen mobiles in the CEIR portal. As on 21st November, 2024, 687 lost/stolen mobiles have been blocked through CEIR portal by RPF/NFR. So far 277 mobiles got activated and traceability report received on CEIR of the lost and stolen mobile.
Out of 277 mobiles, 49 mobiles have been successfully recovered with arrest of 12 criminals by RPF/NFR. RPF of NFR is the first zonal railway of Indian Railways to get access to this CEIR facility. RPF/NFR is also planning to use to CEIR facility across all the states under its jurisdiction.
Rampant incidences of cell-phone thefts from within train compartments and on railway premises have emerged as a serious concern, putting a strain on the resources of RPF. To overcome this, the access to CEIR portal will play a major role in dealing with such type of menace.
