With its latest notification dated Tuesday, August 5, the Home Department, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, declared the banning of the publication of 25 books, and has asked these publications, their copies, and other related documents to be forfeited to the government.
As per the Home department, these books ‘propagate false narrative and secessionism in J&K’.
The notification read, ‘It has come to the notice of the government that certain literature propagates false narrative and secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir. Available evidence based on investigations and credible intelligence unflinchingly indicate that a significant driver behind youth participation in violence and terrorism has been the systematic dissemination of false narratives and secessionist literature by its persistent internal circulation, often disguised as historical or political commentary, while playing a critical role in misguiding the youth, glorifying terrorism and inciting violence against the Indian State.’
‘This literature would deeply impact the psyche of youth by promoting a culture of grievance, victimhood, and terrorist heroism. Some of the means by which this literature has contributed to the radicalization of youth in J&K include distortion of historical facts, glorification of terrorists, vilification of security forces, religious radicalization, promotion of alienation, pathway to violence and terrorism, etc.’, it further stated.
The said books have been declared ‘forfeited’ under Section 98 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, and attract the provisions of Sections 152, 196, and 197 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Some of the banned publications include ‘Al Jihadul fil Islam’ by Moulana Moudadi; ‘Kashmiri’s Fight for Freedom’ by Mohd. Yosuf Saraf; ‘Contested Lands’ by Sumantra Bose; ‘Azadi’ by Arundhati Roy; and ‘Kashmir and the Future of South Asia’ by Sugata Bose and Ayesha Jalal.
