J&K Officials Suspended, Publishers Arrested Over Pro-Separatist School Books
The Jammu and Kashmir administration suspended eight officials and arrested three publishers after two school library books—'Personalities and Legends of J&K' and 'Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir'—were found to glorify separatist leaders like Maqbool Bhat and Syed Ali Geelani. Over 250 copies were distributed to government schools under the Samagra Shiksha scheme. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ordered a review of university websites for anti-India content and an inquiry. An FIR was registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
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Three publishers from Jammu, Delhi remanded in police custody for books praising separatists
A court in Jammu has remanded three publishers to 10-day police custody for allegedly publishing and circulating books that glorify separatist leaders in Jammu and Kashmir. The books in question are 'Personalities and Legends of J&K' (published by Oberoi Book Service) and 'Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir' (published by Anurag Prakashan). The arrested publishers—Inderpaul (Oberoi Book Service), Amardeep Singh, and Girish Arora (Dominant Publishers, Noida)—were virtually produced before the court. The Counter Intelligence Unit registered an FIR under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The case follows the suspension of eight education department officials by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and an inquiry into the books' 'highly inappropriate content.' Both publishing houses had previously been blacklisted by the government.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Three Publishers Arrested Over Books with 'Inappropriate Content' in Jammu and Kashmir
The counter intelligence unit in Jammu arrested three publishers in connection with an investigation into books deemed to contain 'highly inappropriate content' in Jammu and Kashmir. The arrests follow coordinated operations in Jammu and Delhi. An FIR was registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act after two books found in government libraries were reported to glorify separatist leaders. The books are 'Personalities and Legends of J-K' and 'Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir'. The arrested publishers include Inderpaul from Oberoi Book Service, and Amardeep Singh and Girish Arora from Dominant Publishers. Both publishing houses had been previously blacklisted. Additionally, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha suspended eight education department officials and ordered an inquiry. The crackdown follows objections from political parties including the BJP and Congress.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.J&K Lieutenant Governor Orders Examination of University Websites for Anti-India Content After Pro-Separatist Book Incident
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on July 7, 2026, ordered a review of websites and digital repositories of universities and higher educational institutions to remove anti-India material, following the circulation of a pro-separatist book in schools. The book, titled 'Great Personalities and Legends of J&K', profiled Kashmir separatist leaders including Maqbool Bhat, Masarat Alam, Shabir Shah, and Syed Ali Geelani, and was distributed under the national Samagra Shiksha scheme. Sinha warned of serious legal action against those responsible and called for a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for procurement of academic materials. Around 251 copies of the book were recovered. Eight officers have been suspended, and the two authors and publishers have been blacklisted. An FIR has been registered, and raids have been conducted in Jammu and Noida.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Police Search Samagra Shiksha Office in Jammu Over Controversial Book Profiling Separatist Leaders
On July 6, 2026, Jammu and Kashmir Police's Counter Intelligence wing searched the Samagra Shiksha office in Jammu as part of an investigation into the book 'Great Personalities and Legends of J&K', which profiles separatist leaders including Maqbool Bhat, Masarat Alam, Shabir Shah, and Syed Ali Geelani. Around 251 copies of the book, authored by Hilal Ahmad and Santosh Meena, were distributed to schools. Following BJP protests, an FIR was registered. The Lieutenant Governor administration had already suspended eight officials and blacklisted the authors and publishers. In response, Samagra Shiksha reconstituted verification committees to review all textbooks and library books for objectionable content, and withheld all payments to publishers pending certification.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.J&K Administration Suspends Eight Officials Over Pro-Separatist Content in School Library Book
The Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor administration suspended eight officials and blacklisted two authors and publishers after a library book titled 'Personalities and Legends of J&K' was found to contain pro-separatist content. The book included a detailed write-up about Maqbool Bhat, founder of the separatist JKLF, who was hanged in 1984. Officials stated the content had the potential to create law and order situations. The book was supplied to over 18,000 government schools. BJP leader Sunil Sharma accused the National Conference government of promoting 'academic jihad'. Education Minister Sakeena Itoo condemned the incident, ordered an inquiry, and promised strict action against those responsible.
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