Gandhinagar: The Gujarat Assembly on Friday amended its Cow Protection Act making the law stringent and even punishable with life term.

The state Assembly passed the amendment to the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act of 1954 providing for maximum punishment of upto life imprisonment and a fine of upto Rs 5 Lakh.

With this Act, cow slaughter has become a non-bailable offence in the state. Hitherto, if a person was found in possession of beef, he could face a jail term ranging from seven to 10 years. According to the new law, even if someone had a permit they would not be allowed to carry any meat at night.