Caption: Mysuru SP Mallikarjun Baladandi returning the stolen cell phones that were recovered to the complainants at his office auditorium in Nazarbad, Mysuru, yesterday.
Mysuru, June 3 – A total of 173 android cell phones worth Rs. 35 lakh, that were either lost or stolen in Mysuru district, have been recovered using the latest Central Equipment Identity Register system, said Superintendent of Police Mallikarjun Baladandi.
Addressing media persons at his office auditorium in Nazarbad here yesterday, SP Baladandi said, there is a trend of people buying cell phones sold at inflated price, without even checking whether it was a lost or stolen device. Such phones can be easily tracked, if the people file the complaint and provide requisite details that will be uploaded on CEIR portal.
“Whenever the phones are traced, Police call the users only to instruct them to return the same to Police Stations. While 50% of people oblige without creating any fuss, others remain adamant, not willing to surrender. In such cases, Police trace the users and seize the phones. There are instances of seizing such phones from other States like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala,” added the SP.
In the ongoing year, a total of 1,075 cases related to phone theft/ lost have been reported and 445 cell phones have been recovered, while in the previous year (2025), a total of 2,220 cases were reported and 372 were solved. In 2024, of the total 2,315 complaints, 300 were solved. The overall rate of recovery is registered at 66%, explained Baladandi.
Rowdy sheeter arrested
To curb rowdy activities, SP Baladandi said, South Police (Mysuru Rural Police) have arrested rowdy sheeter Gautham alias Appiq, of Kailaspuram, on charge of hafta vasool at APMC market in Bandipalya.
He has total seven cases, including one murder case, four attempt to murder cases and another related to hafta vasool.
In Mysuru district, there are total 26 Police Stations, where 155 Civil Police Constables (CPC) posts are vacant. As an alternative, the Police personnel deputed for special duty are being deployed for night patrolling, SP Baladandi said.
Locked House Beat System launched
The Locked House Beat System has been introduced in the district level too. Those residents going out of station after locking their houses, should inform the jurisdictional Police by providing requisite details either through Google Form or WhatsApp.
The details required are; residential address, selfie with house in the backdrop, google map location, CCTV camera related info and the date of going out of station from when to when.
The details provided will be registered in a separate cell at the District Control Room. The information will be dispatched to jurisdictional Police.
The Beat Police will patrol such locked houses to prevent any theft attempts, said the SP.
Hunsur gold heist: Prime accused flees to Nepal
Sharing details about the progress of investigation so far into the robbery of 8.32-kg of gold jewellery, valued at over Rs. 10 crore, from Sky Gold and Diamond Store in Hunsur on Dec. 28, 2025, SP Baladandi said, the prime accused remains at large, while five other accused in the case have been arrested.
If the prime accused is apprehended, the whole quantity of gold can be recovered. The Police had went in search of the accused at Bihar, Odisha and other States, but to no avail. As per latest information available, he is suspected to have been hiding in Nepal. The Police will surely catch hold of him from his hideout, said SP exuding confidence.
To a question on Bangladesh immigrants living in a covert manner in the district, SP Baladandi said that the operation to trace out illegal Bangladeshi immigrants has been launched.
The Police have been visiting the industrial areas, especially in Nanjangud which has most number of factories and collecting the data of every employee there, including their names, profession, present residential address and their native. By collecting such details, it is easy to identify Indians and Bangladeshi immigrants among them, he added.
This post was published on June 3, 2026 7:30 pm