印度一邦禁止牛肉,擁有牛肉者將被判刑

India's western state of Maharashtra hasintroduced a ban on beef so strict that even possession could land you in jailfor five years, media reports and the chief minister said Tuesday.

印度西部的馬哈拉斯特拉邦禁止牛肉，即使是擁有牛肉者也將被判處五年，媒體和該邦首席部長週二說。

The country's Hindu majority considers cowssacred, and several states already ban their slaughter. But the latest measures in Maharashtra --home to India's commercial centre Mumbai -- go even further, making the sale orpossession of beef an offence punishable by a five-year jail term or a 10,000rupee ($160) fine.

印度主要人口印度教徒認爲牛是神聖的，已經有幾個邦禁止屠殺牛。但是該邦——印度商業中心孟買的所在地——的這項最新措施更加嚴厲，銷售或者擁有牛肉者將被判處5年刑期或者1萬盧比（160美元）罰金。

The Indian Express newspaper said themeasures became law after President Pranab Mukherjee gave his assent to a legalamendment -- which was passed by the state parliament two decades ago, but wasnever sent to a president for approval.

印度媒體報道，在總統慕克吉同意一項法律修正案後，這個措施才成爲了法律。該修正案在20年前就被該邦議會通過了，但是從來沒有交給總統批准。

The measures include a ban on the slaughterof bulls and bullocks, hitherto legal with a vet's certificate, although itwill still be legal to slaughter buffalo.

這項措施禁止屠殺公牛和小牛，除非擁有獸醫證書。屠殺水牛依然是合法的。