The Special Task Force (STF) of Crime Branch on Friday launched a helpline to curb wildlife crimes, which are rising unabatedly in the State. The agency is planning to crackdown on organised syndicates involved in wildlife crime.
People can directly share information with the police henceforth by calling on the helpline number (9439263646) on matters related to wildlife crimes from anywhere in the State. The name and other details of the callers would be kept secret, a notification said.On Thursday, the STF team had seized a leopard skin and apprehended two persons during a raid at Bolagarh in Khordha district.
Acting on a tipoff, the STF conducted the raid and arrested the accused along with his associate while they were allegedly striking a deal to sale the skin in the market.
In the drive against wildlife criminals and poachers, the STF has seized as many as 12 leopard skins, 6 elephant tusks, 2 deer skins, 2 pangolins and pangolin scales weighing at 5 kg and arrested 24 persons and registered 13 cases against wildlife criminals during last one year.