‘Shocked’ Taslima denies writing article in K’taka daily

“The incident that occurred in Karnataka on Monday shocked me. I learned that it was provoked by an article written by me that appeared in a Karnataka newspaper. But I have never written any article for any Karnataka newspaper in my life,” she said.

Nasreen said,”The appearance of the article is atrocious. In any of my writings I have never mentioned that Prophet Muhammad was against burkha. Therefore this is a distorted story.”

The author said,”I suspect that it is a deliberate attempt to malign me and to misuse my writings to create disturbance in the society. I wish peace will prevail.”

The violence in Shimoga,the home town of Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa,left two persons dead,one of them in police firing on Sunday.

Nasreen,staying in an undisclosed destination due to security reasons since her return to India last month,had her visa extended recently by six months till August this year.

Replying to a question,she said she would not like to say anything other than the statement issued by her.

Situation in Shimoga,Hassan peaceful

The situation is peaceful on Tuesday in Shimoga and Hassan in Karnataka,which saw violence over publication of an article,allegedly written by Taslima in a leading Kannada daily.

“The situation is peaceful. Security has been tightened to prevent any untoward incident. Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) personnel are keeping a close watch,” Shimoga Superintendent of Police S Murugan said.

In Shimoga,Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa’s home town,two persons were killed — one in police firing and the other in violence – over publication of the Kannada version of the article.

Murugan said around 50 persons have been arrested in connection with the violence and added that the dusk to dawn curfew imposed in four localities of Shimoga town has been extended till evening.

In Hassan,where prohibitory orders were imposed for three days since yesterday,the situation was under control with the deployment of Karnataka State Reserve Police force,Superintendent of Police Sharat Chandra said.

The authorities have sought assistance of Rapid Action Force to control the situation,he said.

An FIR has been lodged against the Kannada daily and also the Urdu newspaper which carried the article “hurting the sentiments of a religious community.”