On its website, the Jaipur Literary Festival bills itself as being “free and open to all”. All you need to do, it says, is show up, with a photo ID. Except that under the surreal circumstances that have overshadowed the proceedings at the first couple of days of the festival, some of the best-known writers in the business have either had to keep away for fear of being killed – or, having turned up with a photo ID (and an invitation from the festival organisers), have had to slip away from the festival, like thieves in the night, for fear of arrest.