India, Nov. 17 -- The state government has issued fresh regulations for the transport of animals, especially cattle, which is expected to ease harassment for transporters and ensure humane treatment of animals.

While scrapping the existing regulations, the state has standardised the rules for granting permission for animal transport by road across all regional transport offices (RTOs) in Maharashtra.

A review of the rules was undertaken four months after the Qureshi community went on an indefinite strike in districts across the state. The protest highlighted complaints of harassment from the police and self-proclaimed "gau rakshaks" (cow protectors) who not only seized their vehicles but attacked those involved in transporting cattle in...