Taslima shifted out of harm's way, to Jaipur

MOVING OUT: Taslima was moved out after violence in Kolkata during a shutdown called by a Muslim outfit.

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New Delhi: Controversial Bangladeshi writer, Taslima Nasreen has been taken to Jaipur from West Bengal, according to CNN-IBN sources, under security provided by the WB government.

The Kolkata Police Commissioner has informed IG Intelligence Rajasthan, that Taslima has been moved to the state.

After continuous unrest in the state, the Kolkata Police had suggested that the writer be taken to a place where she would be safe and out of harm's way.

Official sources said the 45-year-old writer flew in here from Kolkata on Thursday evening and was discreetly taken to a safe place. Unconfirmed reports said she took an afternoon flight of 'Indian'.

IGP Security Rajasthan, Meghchand Meena told CNN-IBN, "We didn't receive any programme from her side. At around 4:30 in the evening on Thursday, we received a call from the Deputy Commissioner of West Bengal, informing us of her arrival. That time, she was already on board a flight to Rajasthan. Taslima is under Y category security and we received her as per the protocol."

Meena said that Taslima had been installed in a city hotel, Hotel Shikha, which is near the Chief Minister's house and the area around the hotel had been cordoned off.

He also added that the Rajasthan Police and state intelligence agencies are on alert and are keeping any eye on some groups known to make trouble.

She was moved out a day after outbreak of large-scale violence in central Kolkata during a 'shutdown' called by a Muslim outfit — All India Minority Forum — for cancelling her visa, which has been extended by the Government of India till February 17 next.

The shutdown was also called to protest against the violence in Nandigram and the Army had to be called in to control the situation.

Taslima has angered conservative Muslims by her writing and fled her homeland in 1994 after radical Muslims demanded her execution. She was attacked by activists of Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen at a book release function on August 9 this year in Hyderabad.

CPI-M's state General Secretary and Left Front Chairman Biman Bose had even made a remark saying that Taslima should leave West Bengal.

"I don't want to speak elaborately on the role played by the Centre on Taslima Nasreen's stay in West Bengal. But if her stay creates a problem for peace, she should leave the state," Bose had said in a written statement issued on Wednesday evening.

He however backtracked on his statement today saying "the state government does not have the authority to grant or cancel visa and only the Centre can do this and let the Union Government take an appropriate decision on the issue."

(With inputs from agencies)