Wild animal parts racket busted in Odisha, one detained

Bhubaneswar: A special team of Crime Branch and City Forest Division on Tuesday busted a racket that allegedly used to sell animal body parts by claiming the items to be ‘plant and astrology’ products online.

One person has been detained and 210 dried sexual organs of monitor lizard parts have been seized during a raid at Bramheswarpatna area in Bhubaneswar.

Wildlife crime control bureau had initially got information about such illicit trade online and had alerted the Crime Branch.

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According to reports, the accused Chintan Joshi used to procure the wild animal parts from Ahmadabad and used to sell the products in the name of Hata-jodi, which is usually considered a powerful astrological item used for prosperity.

Sources said, such products were being sold at a price ranging from Rs 300 to Rs 15,000 on several websites.

"Wildlife Crime Cell of Crime Branch is investigating the case registered under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972," informed Special Director General of Police (Crime Branch) B.K. Sharma in a tweet message.