Sanchar Saathi Recovers Over 50,000 Lost/Stolen Mobile Phones in October 2025
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) announced that its Sanchar Saathi initiative enabled the recovery of more than 50,000 lost and stolen mobile handsets across India in October 2025, marking a significant milestone in digital security efforts.
Key Achievements
- Monthly Recovery: Over 50,000 devices recovered in October 2025
- National Total: Crossed 7 lakh (700,000) overall recoveries
- Growth Rate: 47% surge in monthly recoveries from June to October 2025
- Recovery Rate: More than one handset recovered every minute nationwide
Top Performing States
Karnataka and Telangana have emerged as leaders, each crossing 1 lakh recoveries, while Maharashtra follows with over 80,000 devices recovered.
How Sanchar Saathi Works
The indigenously developed platform uses automated workflows and real-time device traceability to prevent misuse of blocked devices. When a SIM is inserted into a reported handset, the system immediately triggers alerts to both the registered citizen and the relevant police station, enabling faster recovery.
Collaborative Success
This achievement results from seamless coordination between police personnel across states/UTs, DoT’s Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU), and field formations (LSAs). Regular capacity-building programs and partnerships with state police forces have strengthened on-ground response capabilities.
Citizen Advisory
The DoT urges citizens to download the Sanchar Saathi app to:
- Report and block lost or stolen mobile devices
- Verify the genuineness of new and old devices before purchase
- Report suspected fraudulent calls and messages
- Cross-check trusted contact details of banks and financial institutions
