MP to amend cow slaughter ordinance

Bhopal, June 15 (UNI) A provision for strict punishment is being made in the amendment to the Madhya Pradesh Cow Slaughter Ban Act, 2004, with the objective to prevent slaughter of cows, official sources said today.

Under the Madhya Pradesh Cow Slaughter Ban (Amendment) Bill, 2006, which is likely to be passed in the next assembly session, provisions would be made for three to five years of punishment to offenders.

A study of a similar law in Rajasthan is underway in this regard.

The Madhya Pradesh Government had passed the Act in 2004 but the offenders managed to walk away free due to flexible provisions. No one had been convicted under the Act so far.

Sources said several illegal cow transport cases had come to light but action against the guilty were taken under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act under which the maximum punishment was fine.

At present, under the provisions, it was difficult to ascertain whether cows were being conveyed for slaughter.

Madhya Pradesh Gaupalan and Pashudhan Samvardhan Board executive committee Chairman Meghraj Jain told UNI that the government was committed to ending cow slaughter. The present Act required amendment and the government was not backtracking.

Mr Jain said cow and bovine animals were conveyed from Madhya Pradesh to Maharashtra and other places and slaughtered. However, transporters, when caught, claimed they were conveying the cattle.

He said as per norms, not more than eight cattle heads could be conveyed in a truck. Besides, arrangements for fodder and cushion must be made during transportation. However, offenders transported more than 3-4 dozen cattle heads at a time.

UNI PKJ-PS PA DS1645