National Telecom Policy 2012 provides for facilitating establishment of a National Mobile Property Registry for addressing security, theft and other concerns including reprogramming of mobile handsets. There are more than 900 million SIMs/handset in circulation in the country and it is liable only on the part of the individual to stop its functioning and for its probable misuse if any from the operators. Further, the individuals are at liberty to file an FIR or report of loss of the handset / SIM, thereby to prevent its misuse. An Advisory to States/UTs was issued on 5-2-2014 for the Compulsory Registration of FIR u/s 154 Cr.P.C when the information makes out a cognizable offence, which would also cover the above.

            National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) does not collect data on mobile phone theft separately. According to Crime in India data, 19,377 cases of Electronic Components Stolen were registered across the country last year, out of which 6,014 were recovered. In Delhi, the number of cases of mobile phones theft registered by police during the period 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 (upto 30.06.2014) is as under:-

Police promptly registers FIR in all cases, where the Mobile Phones have reportedly been stolen. The complainant is also advised to inform the Service Provider to block the SIM to prevent misuse. Moreover, concrete steps /measures have also been taken by Police to make the public aware of their rights to lodge a complaint/FIR in Police Stations. There is a sign board in the Duty Officer’s room of every Police Station, indicating the right of complainant to lodge an FIR. Efforts are made by Police to track/trace stolen mobile phones are as under:-

The Investigating Officer makes necessary efforts to track and recover the stolen mobile phones. These include contacting the service providers, ascertaining the user details of the number on which the handset is activated subsequent to this theft and visiting the address mentioned in the subscriber form. The technical knowhow pertaining to IMEI number of a stolen mobile phone is available only with the service providers and necessary follow-up of a painstaking kind is done with the service providers to scan and work upon the IMEI numbers of stolen phones, in order to trace them. Zonal Integrated Police Network (ZIPNET) has been provided which contains the details (IMEI numbers) of lost/stolen mobile handsets. Citizen are advised to check the list of stolen/list mobile handsets on the ZIPNET before purchasing a pre-owned mobile phone.

Further, the Government has emphasized that the Law Enforcement Agencies i.e. Police, Prosecution and Judiciary etc. and the Public at large may be made aware and for the effective implementation of Information Technology Act, 2000 read with Information Technology (Amendment) Act 2008 and Rules made there under, as these are effective laws to deal with matters on Crimes. Agencies like NASSCOM, NTRO, CERT-In etc. may also be taken for training. The aforesaid measures are only indicative and the State Governments/UT Administrations may consider any additional measures for the preventing & combating crime as necessary.

Shri Kiren Rijiju MoS (Home) gave this information in Rajya Sabha today in a written reply to a question by Dr. K.P. Ramalingam

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KSD/PK/ASY