No leniency shown towards Taslima's attackers: Police

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh police on Friday denied that it was lenient in taking action against MIM leaders in the Taslima Nasreen attack case and asserted that it would act according to the provisions of law.

"We will act according to the law. Three MLAs and other accused were arrested immediately. We booked them under whatever sections available including non-bailable sections," Hyderabad police commissioner Balwinder Singh told .

The attack on Bangladeshi novelist during a book release function here yesterday had triggered widespread outrage and the city police came under criticism for the alleged laxity.

Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), which has considerable influence in the old areas, is an ally of the ruling Congress.

"I cannot take action beyond law. You can check up whether the contents of the complaint and the sections of law used are correct or not. We have gone according to sections of law which are applicable to the complaint and the allegations made in the complaint," the Commissioner said.
   
All the "available accused" have been arrested under proper sections of law which includes criminal tresspass, assault and criminal intimidation, he said.

Facing a volley of questions on why police did not take action against MIM floor leader in the assembly Akbaruddin Owaisi for holding out a threat to kill Nasreen if she visited Hyderabad again, he said the police had taken note of the matter.

Asked whether the incident was the result of an intelligence failure, he said the organisers of the event did not give prior information about the visit of Nasreen. "It was a very low profile function, almost like a family event," he said.