Indian court halts cow slaughter ban

An Indian court yesterday temporarily suspended a ban imposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government on the sale of cattle for slaughter, dealing the first legal blow to the controversial measure.

The Madras High Court in the southern state of Tamil Nadu stayed the federal ban yesterday. The government last week prohibited the sale and purchase of cows -- an animal considered sacred for Hindus -- for slaughter across India.

The sudden ruling sparked protests against what many saw as an overreach by the Hindu-right BJP.  Kerala, West Bengal, Meghalaya and Puducherry have said they will resist the ban.