To curb “illegal transportation and smuggling of cattle, particularly cows”,Uttarakhand policewill now bookcattle smugglersunder theGangster Act, state Police headquarters informed.
Under the UPCP Act cases, if the accused are found to be committing the aforementioned crimes in a gang as part of an organised crime or are repeat offenders, then they would also be booked under the Gangster Act so that it acts as a deterrent. Directions have been given to SSPs and SPs in 13 districts,” said Murugesan, adding, “Once accused are booked under the Gangster Act, police will start attaching their properties accumulated illegally with the crime .” A total of 214 cases were registered under the UPCP Act and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act in 2021.