Laws preventing the slaughter of cows in India have been in place in some states since as early as 1932. However, according to a report by ACLED on 3 May 2021, several states (such as Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana, Sikkim and Madhya Pradesh) have recently made amendments to these laws to include stricter punishments for cow slaughter and, in some cases, to also criminalize the transportation, possession and sale of cattle or beef. The adoption of stricter laws is leading to a rise in violence related to cow protection across the country: In the years 2016-2020, over 50 fatalities were reported as a result of mob violence following suspected cow slaughter or trade, with a sharp rise in violence occurring in 2018. This increase in violence coincided with Hindu nationalist BJP-led governments coming to power in several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Jharkhand. Rolf Zeegers, World Watch Research analyst, comments: "The ACLED report states that Hindu nationalists have targeted Muslims, Dalits and Adivasi communities. Christians are not mentioned in this particular report, but other sources clearly indicate that so-called cow-vigilantes have attacked Christians as well (CSW, 28 September 2020). This violence by radical Hindus continues with impunity since the local authorities do not act against the perpetrators. From a Christian point of view, it is very disturbing that many Hindus in India see cows as being more important than human beings."