Examiner News Desk | Srinagar:
The Counter-Intelligence Wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police has conducted raids at the premises of two publishing houses after registering an FIR over the alleged circulation of two books accused of glorifying separatist figures. The books had been procured for government school libraries under the centrally sponsored Samagra Shiksha programme.
Police said the case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). During the searches, investigators seized physical documents and digital evidence as part of the ongoing probe. No arrests have been made so far.
The FIR pertains to two publications—Personalities and Legends of Jammu and Kashmir, authored by Hilal Ahmad and Santosh Meena and published by Jammu-based Oberoi Book Service, and Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir, authored by Dr Sushant Giri and published by Delhi-based Anurag Prakashan.
According to officials, 123 copies of one of the books were supplied to government schools in Jammu, Ramban and Udhampur districts, while 128 copies of the second title were distributed among schools in Jammu and Baramulla districts.
The police action comes a day after the Jammu and Kashmir administration banned both books, blacklisted their authors and publishers, suspended eight officials of the School Education Department—including a principal—and removed a contractual employee over their role in the procurement process. The government has also ordered a high-level inquiry into the matter.
In an order issued on Saturday, the School Education Department said the two books had been withdrawn from school libraries after they were found to contain “highly inappropriate content.” The department directed that the authors and publishers be banned and blacklisted across the Union Territory and ordered the withdrawal of any other publications authored or published by them.
Officials said that under the Samagra Shiksha programme, the department had procured 463 books from 364 publishers this year. Of these, only two titles were found to contain objectionable material. A total of 250 copies of the books had been distributed to schools in Jammu, Ramban, Udhampur and Baramulla districts.
The government stated that the officials responsible for approving the books had displayed “serious negligence,” “dereliction of duty” and a “lack of proper due diligence,” alleging that the publications contained content related to separatism with the potential to disturb public order.
The controversy erupted after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged that the books glorified separatist leaders and contained objectionable references. The party termed the procurement a serious lapse and demanded accountability from those involved in the selection and approval process.
Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma alleged that one of the books praised Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, referred to Jammu and Kashmir as “India-occupied Kashmir,” and portrayed several separatist leaders in a favourable light.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, however, said he had neither seen nor read the books.
The latest action forms part of a broader crackdown on publications in Jammu and Kashmir. Last year, the administration ordered the forfeiture of 25 books, citing concerns over radicalisation and the alleged glorification of terrorism. The banned titles included works by authors such as Arundhati Roy, Sumantra Bose, A.G. Noorani, Anuradha Bhasin, David Devadas and Hafsa Kanjwal.
