Puri Police have arrested 175 snatchers and recovered 304 lost mobile phones during the Rath Yatra 2026 of Lord Jagannath, ensuring the safety and security of lakhs of devotees.
Under the leadership of Superintendent of Police, Puri, Prateek Singh, and with the coordinated efforts of all Police Stations and the Cyber Police Station, a dedicated Anti-Snatching Team was constituted to prevent incidents of snatching and theft during the festival. The team maintained continuous surveillance in crowded areas, including the Grand Road (Bada Danda), the vicinity of Shree Jagannath Temple, bus stands, the beach, and other sensitive locations, by deploying personnel in plain clothes.
As a result of this well-planned operation, 175 snatchers were arrested during the Rath Yatra period. Appropriate criminal cases were registered against all the accused, and they were forwarded to the competent courts in accordance with law.
During the operation, 304 lost mobile phones were successfully recovered. In addition, several valuable articles, including gold ornaments, cash, wallets, identity documents, and other personal belongings, were also recovered. After due verification, the recovered property is being returned to its rightful owners in a phased manner.
Today, through the “Missing Mobile Mela”, many recovered mobile phones were handed over to their owners. Citizens expressed their appreciation for the prompt response, transparency, and citizen-centric approach adopted by Puri Police in tracing and returning their lost property.
Puri Police appeals to all citizens whose mobile phones have been lost and who have not yet lodged a complaint or recovered their devices to register their complaints through the Puri Police “Sahayak” WhatsApp Chatbot at +91 87631 99400.
Puri Police arrest 175 snatchers, recover 304 lost phones during Rath Yatra 2026; valuable property returned to rightful owners.
When faith draws millions, even thieves must fear the law.
