Bengal beefs up security for Taslima

The function was organised on the occasion of the release of the Telugu edition of her latest book Shodh. The state government has also extended the visa of the author, which was to expire by August-end.

The writer currently is provided round-the-clock security from the Kolkata Police, with one personal security officer of the rank of sub-inspector and 4-5 armed constables.

From today, the police have assigned the overall charge of her security to an officer of the level of Assistant Commissioner. And apart from the sub-inspector, an officer of the rank of Inspector will be assigned too.

City intellectuals and the ruling Marxists, meanwhile, condemned the incident, saying this sort of cultural policing will harm Indian culture.

Biman Bose, CPI(M) state committee secretary, said: “We condemn the incident, particularly because this has happened during a press conference. Nobody should do anything that hampers one’s freedom of expression. You may not like one’s views, but you cannot forcibly stifle anyone’s voice.”

Eminent writer Nabaneeta Deb Sen also condemned this incident. “I am horrified at the incident. Fundamentalism is spreading its tentacles all over the world and India has become a victim to that. It is sad that it has happened in India, the second largest democracy in the world,” she said.

Writer Sankha Ghosh echoed similar sentiments. “This is a serious incident and everyone should condemn it. You may not agree with somebody but you cannot stifle somebody’s voice forcibly,” he said.