Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen leaves India

London, Mar.19 : Controversial Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen left India for an unknown destination on Wednesday, but not before voicing her bitterness against the way the UPA Government had treated her since her troubles in India began in November last year.

Charging the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of being no better than "religious fundamentalists," she told reporters at London's Heathrow Airport before taking a connecting flight to her unknown destination, Taslima said she did not want to "compromise" on her security.

"If I disclose my destination, my security will be compromised. My face has now become recognisable and I could be target of religious fundamentalists," she said.

Taslima alleged that her human rights had been infringed upon in the last four months when she was brought to Delhi after being hounded out from Kolkata.

Taslima said she would not hesitate to discuss what she said was a traumatic experience.

"I was put under tremendous stress, but I could not speak out as I was under their (government) surveillance and could be harassed by them," she said in a choked voice from London.

Nasreen said she used to call the government safe-house in Delhi where she was put up as the "torture chamber".

"I gradually came to realise that it was the chamber of death instead," Taslima said, adding she was forced to leave India because of "extreme stress" that she went through the last four months.

The writer was forced to leave Kolkata after radical Muslims called for her ouster from India for publishing a sixth controversial book titled 'Dwikhandito' (Split In Two), which is an autobiography.

The 45-year-old writer was first shifted to Jaipur on November 22, and then to New Delhi under tight security to an undisclosed location.

The other books written by Taslima include (1) Lajja (2) French Lover (3) Wild Wind (4) Homecoming and (5) Shodh.

ANI