Indian state of Nagaland bans sale of dog meat

Animal rights groups hail decision to prohibit trade in north-eastern region

Authorities in India's north-eastern state of Nagaland have banned the sale of dog meat and halted the import and trading of dogs to be used for food, said officials.

The remote Christian-majority state's chief secretary Temjen Toy tweeted that the state government had banned all commercial import and trading of dogs. The sale of dog meat, both cooked and uncooked, has also been banned. The move followed an appeal earlier in the week by Indian politician Maneka Gandhi, who urged the Nagaland government to act.