Bhubaneswar, March 26 (IANS) Worried over the growing incidents of women and children being trafficked out, Orissa Saturday made operational a special state level anti-human trafficking unit to deal with such cases, an official said.

It is the first integrated anti-human trafficking unit (IAHTU) set up at the police (crime branch) headquarters at Cuttack, about 26 km from here, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Crime Branch) Sontosh Bala told IANS.

"It will gather intelligence about human trafficking, initiate steps to rescue the victims and carry out professional investigation to bring all the offenders to book," she said.

"This unit has jurisdiction over the whole of the state. It can sue moto take up cases and initiate investigation," she added.

Every year, hundreds of women and children are being trafficked to different states. They work as servants and domestic workers. Some women are also used in sex trade.

The government recently said it has planned to set up anti-human trafficking units (AHTUs) in each of its districts.

"Each unit will have around 12 people drawn from various walks of life. It will be led by a deputy superintendent of police," Bala said.