AIMIM protest forces Taslima to return from Aurangabad airport

AURANGABAD: Controversial Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen was sent back from the airport to Mumbai after protests by a group of people against her visit to the city here, police said on Sunday.

Nasreen landed at the Chikalthana Airport Saturday evening but the police stopped her from stepping out as a crowd had gathered shouting “Taslima go back”.

Deputy commissioner of police (zone-II) Rahul Shrirame said Nasreen was sent back to Mumbai by the next flight to avoid any “law and order problem”.

Protesters had also gathered outside a hostel where Nasreen was supposed to stay during her three-day visit. Police said the writer had planned to visit world heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora besides other tourist spots.

The protest at the airport was led by Imtiyaz Jaleel, the AIMIM legislator from the Aurangabad central constituency.

Jaleel said her writings have “hurt” the religious sentiments of Muslims across the world. “We will not allow her to step on the soil of our city,” he said.

Last month, the Union home ministry had extended her visa for one year, with effect from July 23, 2017. Nasreen, a citizen of Sweden, has been getting Indian visa on a continuous basis since 2004.

She is living in exile since she left Bangladesh in 1994 in the wake of threats to her by fundamentalist groups.