MUMBAI, July 18 -- The state government said on Thursday it would strengthen the law banning cow slaughter by enhancing the punishment for repeat offenders. The announcement was made amid concerns raised by legislators of the ruling parties that cow slaughter was "rampant" in the state despite the ban on beef. The government also announced a state-wide drive against illegal slaughter houses. Replying to a question in the legislative assembly on Thursday, minister of state for home Yogesh Kadam said stricter action would be taken against repeat offenders. BJP legislator Sanjay Upadhyay and other MLAs from his party and the Shiv Sena said cow slaughter was "rampant" despite the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amended) Act, 2015 being in place. They demanded that repeat offenders be charged under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Upadhyay also said that the hands of offenders should be "chopped off". In response, Kadam said the law was not stringent enough to act as a deterrent. "It has been observed that there is no fear of the law among repeat offenders. This is because of the punishment of five years and a penalty of Rs.10,000," he said. "The government will amend the law to increase the sentence to ten years. The fine will also be increased."...