Sen accompanied by thespian Shaoli Mitra, singer Pallab Kirtania and others were stopped at the Mahishrekha bridge in Bagnan, Uluberia SDO Sanjay Basu said.

The police stopped them under instructions from the District Magistrate as security for them could not be ensured in Nandigram where the police were busy with arrangements for the elections, he said.

The intellectuals, however, expressed their resolve to stay put after being stopped by the police.

"I am a citizen of this country and I have the right to go anywhere I like. The State Election Commission has given us permission to visit Nandigram during the election Sunday," Sen said. She questioned the need to stop them on security grounds.

"Why is the administration worried about our security? What about the security of media persons who have gone there to cover the elections or the people of Nandigram?" Kirtania alleged that the police had warned them that if they did not go back on their own, they would be turned back forcibly.