Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said the state government has, for the first time, invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against offences linked to cow smuggling, illegal cattle transportation and unlawful slaughterhouse operations.
The move signals a tougher crackdown on organised networks allegedly involved in the illegal cattle trade, with the state government asserting that the use of MCOCA would stand legal scrutiny in court.
Speaking about the decision, Fadnavis said strict action would continue against such activities.
“For the first time, we have implemented the MCOCA law, and I believe it will be completely justified in court. If anyone does this, MCOCA will be invoked against them,” the Chief Minister said.
Maharashtra steps up crackdown on illegal cattle trade
MCOCA, a stringent law enacted to tackle organised crime syndicates, has traditionally been used in cases involving extortion rackets, gang activity and organised criminal networks.
The Maharashtra government’s decision to apply the law to offences related to cow smuggling and illegal slaughterhouses marks a significant expansion in its use.
The Chief Minister, however, did not elaborate on specific cases in which MCOCA had been invoked.
Fadnavis flags El Nino challenge ahead of kharif season
Alongside the law-and-order announcement, Fadnavis also spoke about Maharashtra’s preparedness for the possible impact of El Nino during the upcoming kharif season.
He said the state government had prepared a detailed plan to deal with possible weather disruptions, including heavy rainfall in some regions and below-normal rainfall in others.
“We have prepared a comprehensive plan for El Nino. There may be heavy rainfall in some places. We have prepared a plan for the precautions that should be taken in that regard,” he said.
Earlier on Thursday, Fadnavis had described El Nino as one of the biggest challenges facing Maharashtra this agricultural season.
Water conservation works accelerated
According to the Chief Minister, rainfall is expected to remain below normal this year, prompting the government to speed up water conservation work under the Jalyukt Shivar programme.
He said district administrations across Maharashtra had been instructed to remain prepared for possible impacts on agriculture and water availability.
“Every district has been equipped to deal with the El Nino effect. We appeal to the optimum use of water to improve the crop cycle this year,” Fadnavis said.