Taslima Nasrin returns to India

Controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin, who was dramatically bundled out from West Bengal in November 2007, returned to New Delhi on Friday.

The 45-year-old Bangladeshi writer, who has been a target of Islamic fundamentalists, arrived at the Indira Gandhi International airport this morning and was immediately whisked away by security agencies to an undisclosed destination, official sources said.

The future plans of the doctor-turned writer, who shot to fame with her controversial book "Lajja", were not immediately known. Her visa is valid till August 12. She has been requesting for permanent residentship in the country but the Government has not taken any decision on the issue.

Taslima had left India on March 18 for Sweden after she was kept in a safe house in the national capital for more than four months. Taslima, who had not been allowed to see any visitors during the period, had described her confinement as living in "a chamber of death".

Taslima has lived in many countries in exile including France, Sweden and India since 1994. During her stay in India in the last five years, she has periodically traveled abroad with the last trip being in November last year before she was bundled out of West Bengal.