In a move to strengthen police-public relations, Jalandhar Commissionerate Police returned seized case properties worth over Rs 13 crores to their rightful owners, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav said on Wednesday.

A special event “Arpan Samaroh” was organised under the leadership of Commissioner of Police (CP) Jalandhar Swapan Sharma at Police Lines in Jalandhar. DGP Yadav said that as part of the event, Jalandhar Commissionerate Police  returned 413 vehicles, 85 mobile phones, numerous household items, jewellery, and other domestic goods, which had been part of 583 different cases registered in the city over the past year.

Additionally, around 100 lost smartphones, valued at Rs 20 lakhs, were also handed over to their owners after being traced through the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal. CP Swapan Sharma said that this initiative was designed to foster trust among citizens by returning hard-earned belongings that had been either stolen, snatched, or involved in various criminal cases. He said that the camp saw the participation of numerous complainants, who attended eagerly to reclaim their lost properties. The event was supported by 14 jurisdictional Station House Officers (SHOs) and SHOs of the Women’s Police Station, who worked diligently to ensure the return of the seized items to their rightful owners, he added.

Emphasising the importance of returning seized properties in a timely manner, the CP said that this ensures the property retains its value and remains in a usable condition.