Nasreen shifted out of Rajasthan

JAIPUR: Virtually hounded out of the Pink City, controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen on Friday left for Delhi by road amidst security concerns after moving out of Kolkata in the wake of protests by a Muslim outfit seeking cancellation of her visa.

Accompanied by an individual identified as Faisal, she was escorted by some Rajasthan police personnel.

Informed sources said she left for Delhi early this morning following threats by a Muslim organisation, the All India Milli Council, to hold demonstrations if the writer was kept in the state for long.

Opposing her stay in the city, Milli state vice president Engineer Mohd Saleem said freedom does not mean that one could abuse any religion.

Last night, the Bangladeshi writer had put up at a hotel here where 30 police personnel were posted to guard her, according to hotel sources.

Rajasthan Inspector General (Security) Meghchand Meena said Taslima was provided 'Y' grade security by the Rajasthan authorities on the requests of their West Bengal counterparts.

Nasreen was brought to Jaipur after protests by a Muslim outfit in Kolkata demanding her deportation turned violent on Wednesday, forcing the West Bengal government to call out the army to quell largescale violence.