Techie tracks her stolen phone, cop suspended for lapse

IMAGE IS AI GENERATE 

By Sumesh Rajan | January 8, 2026

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA: A Mumbai-based software engineer successfully traced her stolen mobile phone with the help of friends, leading to the recovery of multiple stolen devices and the suspension of a local police outpost in-charge in Varanasi for alleged negligence, officials said.

The incident occurred last week when Ankita Gupta, a resident of Ghatkopar, Mumbai, was visiting Varanasi with her family. While she was at the crowded Assi Ghat, an unidentified person allegedly snatched her mobile phone and fled into the crowd.

Gupta promptly lodged a complaint at the local police station, following which a formal inquiry was initiated. However, when initial efforts failed to yield results, she sought assistance from friends and began tracking the phone’s location using technical tools.

Police officials said Gupta was able to trace the phone to a house in the Manduadih area, around six kilometres from Assi Ghat, and shared the details with the police. Acting on the tip-off, a police team conducted a raid at the location and recovered Gupta’s phone. During the search, the team also seized 12 other stolen mobile phones from the premises, indicating the presence of an organised phone-theft operation.

Following the recovery, Deputy Commissioner of Police Gaurav Kumar ordered an internal inquiry into the handling of the complaint. The probe reportedly found negligence on the part of the in-charge of the Assi police outpost.

Based on the findings, the officer was suspended on January 4, officials confirmed.

The incident has drawn attention to issues of tourist safety and police responsiveness in busy public areas of the city, particularly at popular ghats that witness heavy footfall throughout the year.