Taslima returns to India

New Delhi, Aug 9 (PTI) Controversial Bangladeshi writer
Taslima Nasrin, who was dramatically bundled out from Kolkatta
in November last year, returned today after spending
more than four months in Sweden.

The 45-year-old Bangladeshi writer, who has been a
target of Islamic fundamentalists, arrived here this morning
and was immediately whisked away by security agencies
to an undisclosed destination, official sources said.

The future plans of the doctor-turned writer, who shot
to fame with her controversial book "Lajja", were not
immediately known. Her Indian visa is valid till August 12. She
has been requesting for permanent residentship in India but
the Government has not taken any decision on the issue.

Taslima had left India on March 18 for Sweden after she
was kept in a safe house in New Delhi for more than
four months. Taslima, who had not been allowed to see any
visitors during the period, had described her confinement as
living in "a chamber of death".

Taslima has lived in many countries in exile including
France, Sweden and India since 1994. During her stay in India
in the last five years, she has periodically traveled
abroad with the last trip being in November last year before
she was bundled out from the eastern Indian state of West Bengal.

Recipient of various awards, Taslima was shifted from her
Kolkata residence after violent protests marred in the eastern
metropolis over her controversial book "Dwikhondito" (divided
into two).

Certain references by her in the book stirred a storm
with some Muslim organisations demanding that she be asked to
leave West Bengal.

Taslima was packed off from Kolkata and shifted to Jaipur.
The Rajasthan state government decided to shift her to Delhi after
some Muslim organisations threatened protests in the northwest
Indian state against her stay.

Despite the writer's wish to return to Kolkata, the
Left Front government in West Bengal did not pay any heed to
her request.

The Bangladeshi author had said that she was "forced"
to depart from Kolkata at such a short notice that she did
not have time to even change her clothes.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) came under increasing
attack on Taslima issue, with major national parties demanding protection
and extension of her visa.

A Swedish passport holder, she had flown to Sweden from Delhi
on March 18. PTI VMN