How do they get beef and leather in India if killing a cow is not
allowed and is not in line with the tradition of the (majority) Hindu
religion?

The Muslims and Christians of India do eat beef. Although it is
illegal in most states to kill cows, there is a small cow-leather
industry run by non-Hindus and renegade Hindus.

Kamat's Potpourri: Why don't the Indians eat beef? Why are Indian cows holy?
http://www.kamat.com/indica/culture/holy-cow.htm

CNN: India's sacred cows under threat
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/south/11/04/india.cows/

leapinglizard

Milind,

believe it or not, but India Imports beef - from neighbouring
Bangladesh, mostly and from other countries as well(dont recall the
names off hand).
India does have abbatoirs and slaughter houses but Killing cattle for
meat is rather rare - it is Not officially banned by the way, but
since we hold the cow in high esteem, they are not killed in most
regions of the country(especially since the rural side depends on them
for most of their needs).

The little beef that India does consume is mostly imported.
Its only chicken/sheep and such animals that are killed in the slaughter houses.

Slaughter houses that provide beef rarely advertise that, for it more
often than not attracts advserse publicity. So I dont have any details
of those that do kill cattle.

(Lizard,

Milind is an Indian(or at least of India origin) and Hindu, and most
possibly was looking for details regarding who killed the cows and
how/where the cow-leather industry was situated.)

Not that I can add anything more to this topic, but I am adding my
personal experience..

I visited the state of Kerala during May 2004 while opening our
development center in the city of cochin. In this state, killing a cow
is not illigal, and most of Hindus eat beef.

I saw hundred of cows being marched into the sate from the nearby
state called Tamil Nadi, for comsumption in kerala.

I think the aggressive conservative hinduism practised in the northern
states, is the reason for banning of cow slaughter. South seems to
have a more passive view about their relegion..

Hi Milind,

Most of the Indian states do not allow killing of cow. There is no ban
on Using cow lether as such. So if a cow has died natural death, its
lether can be used.