HYDERABAD: Controversial Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen was roughed up by MIM activists who stormed into a book release function here, injuring a Telugu writer and a press photographer.

Nasreen, here to release the Telugu translation of her latest book "Shodh", escaped unhurt as organizers and journalists shielded her and escorted her to safety. A group of over 40 MIM workers, led by party MLAs Afsar Khan, Ahmed Pasha and Mouzam Khan, barged into the press club at Somajiguda when the function was about to end.

Hurling abuse and shouting slogans, the MIM workers surged menacingly towards the dais as a stunned Nasreen looked on. They threw papers and books at Nasreen. In the melee, Telugu writer N Innaiah, the organizer of the function and president of the rationalist organization Centre for Inquiry, was injured along with a press photographer.

Alert organizers and journalists covering the event threw a protective ring around Nasreen and took her to an adjoining room. The MIM activists, who demanded that Nasreen should leave immediately, broke windows and damaged furniture at the venue. Police then reached the spot and dispersed them.

The MLAs, Mohammed Afsar Khan, Ahmed Pasha Qadri and Mohammed Moazam Khan, were leading a large group of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) workers who disrupted the function at the press club here, Deputy Commissioner of Police N Madhusudhan Reddy said. Replying to a query, he denied that the government was lenient in dealing with workers of the MIM, an ally of the ruling Congress. "We will take strict action irrespective of the party affiliation and individuals. We will act according to the law," Reddy said.

The controversial Bangladeshi writer persisted that she would continue to express her views despite the attack as she enjoyed the love and respect of the common man. "Certain groups, representing a miniscule section, may want to physically harm me under the delusion that they can muzzle my voice. But they are mistaken, I will continue to write what I believe in," Nasreen told PTI on phone from Hyderabad.

"I was rescued by police who escorted me to the airport, she said. Govt condemns attack The Union government meanwhile condemned the attack as shameful. "I believe in democracy. I hope to live safely in this country as a democrat. The people who attacked me are in a minority. I get support and sympathy from a majority of people. I thank them," she said.

Taslima has been living in India since fleeing her homeland in 1994 after radical Muslims described her writings as blasphemous and demanded her execution. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi said it is highly regrettable if any person is subjected to any attack whether he or she is from India or abroad.

Attackers unrepentant Meanwhile, an unrepentant Akbaruddin Owaisi, the MIM leader in the Andhra Pradesh assembly, demanded that Nasreen should be "kicked out" of the country and her visa cancelled.

"Our main demand is that the Union government should cancel the visa of Taslima Nasreen and she should be thrown out, in fact I would use the word kicked out, of the country," he said. Describing the attack on Nasreen as barbaric, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu said it was an assault on the freedom of expression.

The attack at the press club located close to a police station speaks volumes about the failure of law and order; he said and demanded strict action against those responsible for the incident.

"It is (because of) the immunity that the bigots such as MIM and other such fundamentalist organizations enjoy that they feel emboldened enough to attack a writer of Taslima's stature who is in fact an honored guest of this country," said the intellectuals, including Irfan Habib, Ashok Vajpayee and Ali Asghar.

"The incident was outrageous and shameful. In a civilized society, you have a right to approve or disapprove of anything," noted lyricist and author Javed Akhtar said. But, he said, the government should also ensure that Nasreen is not allowed to do or write anything which hurts the sentiments of Muslims.

"The government should immediately cancel her visa and make her go out of the country," he said adding, "She should realize that this is not Bangladesh or Pakistan, but India where the sentiments of all communities are respected".