Nagaland finally bans commercial import & trading of dogs meat

KOHIMA/AIZAWL/AGARTALA: Taking a cue from neighbouring Mizoram, the Nagaland government has banned the trade and consumption of dog meat. State Chief Secretary Temjen Toy in a tweet on Friday said: "The State Government has decided to ban commercial import and trading of dogs and dog markets and also the sale of dog meat, both cooked and uncooked. Appreciate the wise decision taken by the State's Cabinet (on Thursday)." The Chief Secretary tagged his tweet with former Union minister and well known animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi, who is currently a Member of Parliament belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Journalist and former parliamentarian Pritish Nandy urging his followers to join a movement to ban the sale and consumption of dog meat in Nagaland markets, on Wednesday said in a tweet: "This is urgent. You can help make history by sending an email tonight to Nagaland Chief Secretary saying Nagaland must stop dog markets, dog restaurants, and smuggling of dogs into the State. Eating dog meat is inhuman, not just illegal."

The Mizoram government had also recently taken steps to check the open slaughtering of dogs in the state and in March the Mizoram Assembly unanimously passed the Animal Slaughter Bill 2020.

Frequent media reports also said that dogs were transported from neighbouring northeastern States and adjoining countries including Myanmar and Bangladesh and traded in Mizoram, Nagaland and other northeastern states. Animal rights activists said that the cruel transport and slaughter of dogs violates several provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, the Indian Penal Code, and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations. (IANS)

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