Taslima attacked by Andhra MLAs

HYDERABAD: Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen was attacked on Thursday in Hyderabad by three Andhra Pradesh legislators of the Majlis Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen.

The assault took place at the Hyderabad Press Club, as an event to mark launch of the Telugu version of Nasreen’s 1992 novel Shodh, was drawing to a close.

The MLAs, Muqtada Khan, Mozzam Khan, and Pasha Khadri, charged into the hall -packed with media persons and intellectuals - hurling expletives at Nasreen. Then they began to strike at her with clubs improvised from bouquets.

Photographers, and Inaiha Nanisetti, author and the organiser of the event, stopped the lawmakers from causing serious harm to Nasreen.

Curiously, the police were unaware of the programme till Union information and broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi rang chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy to inquire about the incident.

 Nasreen told reporters later: “The people who attacked me are in a minority.” The three MLAs were picked up by the police in the afternoon and then released on bail.