'US firms to boycott Indian leather'

US retail giant Liz Claiborne has decided against using Indian leather because of the cruel treatment meted out to animals en route slaughter houses in the country, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said on Tuesday.

PETA India's coordinator for campaigns and legal affairs NG Jayasimha said on Tuesday that the $4.8 billion turnover company had given an assurance to PETA, US, in this regard.

He said another US retail giant Kenneth Cole, with an annual sales of $518 million, had given a commitment to PETA, US that it would not sell leather from India.

"The suffering of cows and other animals is horrific. Our government has done nothing to reduce the suffering and the Indian leather industry supports the unabated torture of animals", he said adding that the PETA expected more retailers abroad to boycott Indian leather.

Indian animals used for leather were transported under poor and crowded conditions leading to break of bones, suffocation and sometimes even death en route to slaughter houses, he said.

The animals were dragged, beaten and cruelly and illegally handled, he alleged.