Taslima feels 'safe' in hideout but misses Kolkata

WRITE AND WRONG: Taslima Nasreen has been provided with Y category security.

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Keywords: Bangladesh, Citizenship

New Delhi: Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen – who was moved to an undisclosed location in the Capital by Intelligence Bureau on Tuesday – told CNN-IBN she did not leave Kolkata on her own accord.

Nasreen, who has been shifted to a safehouse by the Central government, also told news agency PTI that she felt secure. "Now I feel better. I feel secure. I feel more at ease," she told the agency over a telephonic interview.

However, the writer who has been the subject of much controversy told the agency refused to disclose her whereabouts. "I have been asked not to disclose my location in the interest of my own security. Please don't ask me," she was quoted as saying.

Incidentally, she faced death threats from fundamentalists in Bangladesh for her "anti-Islamic" writings.

It was at 0045 hrs (IST) on Tuesday when IB shifted the writer from Rajasthan House in Delhi to an undisclosed location. She is now under the Centre's protection and is being given Y category security, which means she has a security cover of 11 personnel.

The West Bengal government has not yet urged Taslima to come back, but they maintain they are not blocking her return.

How it started

West Bengal police on November 21 made an offer to controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen to move her out of the state following outbreak of large-scale violence in Kolkata during a shutdown called by a Muslim outfit demanding that her visa will be cancelled.

Union Home Ministry sources told PTI that the police has suggested to Nasreen that she could be moved out to Gujarat but the author is believed to have turned down the offer.

The visa of the Bangladeshi writer was extended by the Government till February 17 next year.