The visa of controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen, who was attacked by activists of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen in Hyderabad earlier this month, has been extended for six months from Saturday.

A decision to extend her visa for stay in India till February 17, 2008, has been taken by the government, a senior Home Ministry official said.

Though the exiled author had applied for a permanent resident permit, the Centre preferred to extend it for six months.

The Bangladeshi author has been living in exile for 12 years and her Bangladeshi passport stands invalid.

She holds a European Union passport issued by the Swedish government.

Nasreen had to move to Sweden after she invoked the ire of fundamentalists in Bangladesh with her book Lajja (Shame) in 1993.

She has been living in India since 2002 after fleeing Bangladesh due to threats from radical groups.

Though she was "shocked" by the attack on her by the Muslim group, Nasreen has said she has no intention of leaving India, which she described as her "second home" and "a good place to live in."

MIM activists had hurled abuse and shouted slogans and disrupted a book release function on August 9 in Hyderabad where Nasreen was present.

They had attempted to assault her by throwing papers, books, bags and bouquets, but she escaped unhurt.

The West Bengal government has decided to review Nasreen's security following the attack in Hyderabad as the author currently lives in Kolkata.