Chandigarh, March 17 (IANS): The Haryana assembly on Monday unanimously passed the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Bill, 2015, under which cow slaughter and sale of beef have been banned in the state.

The new law will prohibit the slaughter of cows, promote conservation and development of indigenous breeds of cows and establish institutions to keep, maintain and take care of the infirm, injured, stray and uneconomic cows.

Anyone found guilty of cow slaughter will face rigorous imprisonment of not less than three years which may extend up to 10 years alongwith fine ranging from Rs.30,000 to Rs.1 lakh.

Any person found indulging in export of cows for the purpose of slaughter will face rigorous imprisonment of not less than three years which may extend up to seven years with fines ranging from Rs.30,000 to Rs.70,000.

Sale of beef will be completely banned and this offence will be punishable with rigorous imprisonment of not less than three years and up to five years with fine of up to Rs.50,000.

The government will establish laboratories for differentiation of beef from meat of other animals, and testing and identification of various constituents of milk.