The Himachal and the Uttrakhand Police will jointly launch an offensive against poachers and those involved in smuggling of leopard skin and other animal parts by routing the banned products through Uttarkashi to reach the markets.

There have been several such cases in the recent past when those involved in smuggling of animal parts, including leopard and bear hides, their teeth, claws and bones, routed the banned material by using the exit routes falling in Uttarkashi, which shares border with the Shillai area of Sirmour and the Chopal area of Shimla district.

Even though there are more cases of poaching in lower parts of Himachal, it is the Uttarkashi route which is being used by smugglers, as there is very little checking along these routes.

“The issue came up for discussion at the intelligence and security meeting of northern states here last week and now Uttrakhand and Himachal will jointly step up surveillance to check smuggling of these banned animal products,” said ID Bhandari, ADGP, CID.

Police officials admit that with other more pressing issues keeping it engaged, they are not able to really focus on checking poaching and smuggling of hides and skins. Himachal has a sizeable population of leopards and people often kill animals to sell their skin, claws and bones which are used for making traditional medicines and at times to meet the demand of those who use it for superstitious purposes.

They admit that there is far less checking along these routes in the Shillai and Chopal areas of Himachal, while the situation is even more relaxed on the Uttarkashi side. In fact in the Uttrakashi area, people rely a lot on trekking route, which helps in unhindered smuggling of animal products, which are in demand not only in India but also internationally despite a ban on the use of these products under the Wildlife Protection Act.

Despite a complete ban on killing of these animals and sale of their body parts, there is still no dearth of those wanting to wear clothes, shoes, belts, bags and other fashion accessories made out of real animal skin.