Govt had no info on Taslima's arrival: Home Minister

Hyderabad, Aug 9 (UNI) Condemning the attack on noted Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen and promising stern action against those responsible, Andhra Pradesh Home Minister K Jana Reddy today said neither the government nor the Hyderabad police had any information about her arrival.

Talking to newspersons here, he denied the allegations that the government was showing a ''lenient'' attitude towards those who attacked Taslima, because they belonged to AIMIM, a friendly party.

Answering a volley of questions at a press conference organised to announce the release of prisoners on the ocassion of the Independence Day and the 150th year of celebrations of the First War of Independence, the Minister said neither Ms Taslima Nasreen nor the organisers of the book release, for which she arrived here, had informed the government or the police about the programme.

However, the police had acted fast and took her to safety, he claimed and said according to his information, police could arrest only three persons while some managed to escape.

Investigation was on and the whereabouts of others involved was being looked into, he said assuring stern action against all those who were responsible for the attack on the reputed Bangla writer ''irrespective of their positions or political affiliations''.

When questioned if only flimsy cases like rioting would be registered against those who were responsible for the physical attack on a woman writer and journalists, the Home Minister said sections would be changed as the investigation progressed.

UNI