Violence engulfs state over controversial article

The 'Kannada Prabha' office burnt down II Image Source: Internet

Mangalore: The publication of a controversial article titled ‘Purdah Hai Purdah’, allegedly written by Taslima Nasreen in the popular Kannada newspaper engulfed the state in a wave of violence this week. “By looking at the burqa, what comes to my mind is that, earlier, in my native place, they used to store flesh using the same material,” says the writer in ‘Kannada Prabha’ which is a sunday magazine and a sister concern of the Indian Express. The article ends with the line: “The burqa should be thrown and burnt.”

Strong objection from the Muslim community led to a mass protest in Shimoga, leaving 2 dead on March 2. The Hassan locality also faced unrest. The Mangalore office of the ‘Kannada Prabha’ was attacked on Tuesday night by a group of masked men, who threw a petrol bomb in the premises, destroyed office equipment and warned journalists against publishing such articles. The ‘Jaya Kirana’ office was also attacked.

“We’ve never published anything related to Taslima Nasreen. They just barged into the office at 9:15 pm and pushed people in the corner, but they did not injure anyone. The police say it is a very well planned conspiracy. They have even changed the licence number on their vehicles. The police have provided us extra security, but we are not scared,” said Prakash Pandeshwar, owner of the paper.

The police themselves are still investigating the case. “The article had been vaguely translated into Kannada. The ‘Jaya Kirana’ had carried an article in support of the Kannada Prabha, which is why its office was attacked as well. It is a well planned conspiracy. We do not know who is responsible yet and no group has claimed responsibility. Police deployment has been put in place for security at all newspaper offices in Mangalore,” said A S Rao, Superintendent of Police.

Raghavendra, the chief sub-editor of the Kannada Prabha at Mangalore was unwilling to comment, only clarifying that the writer of the translated version was not a staff member of the 'Kannada Prabha.' 

Taslima Nasreen, the alleged writer of the article however, has announced to national newspapers that she did not write for the Kannada Prabha, and that this is merely an attempt to malign her.

Sub-edited by: Monica Hariharan