‘Ink-man’ held during his lone protest against Rushdie

A law graduate from Jamia Millia Islamia,Siddiqui is out on bail in the Ramdev case.

Rushdie is in Delhi to attend a conclave organised by a media group. His book,The Satanic Verses,is banned in India and several other countries.

The Delhi Police has provided unprecedented security at the South Delhi house where Rushdie is staying during this visit. “We have provided him with adequate security and all his movements are being monitored closely by us to prevent any kind of trouble,” said a senior police officer.

Siddiqui was detained a few metres away from the hotel.

“We detained Kamran Siddiqui under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act. He wanted to disrupt the conclave,” said K C Dwivedi,Additional CP (New Delhi).

On Friday,Siddiqui held a protest at Jantar Mantar against Rushdie’s visit. “Since he had taken permission for the protest,we did not arrest him on Friday,” said a senior police officer.

Siddiqui was arrested on January 15 when he threw black ink on Baba Ramdev,while he was addressing a conference on black money. His NGO was also a petitioner in the September 19,2008,Batla House encounter case.

Police said they had received intelligence inputs that other Muslim groups would also be protesting against Rushdie’s visit,and they had elaborate security arrangements for the same.

Earlier,Pakistani cricketer Imran Khan had pulled out of the event after it was announced that Rushdie would at the conclave.