Authorities in India-held Kashmir raided multiple bookshops on Thursday following a government order banning 25 books, including a title by Booker Prize-winning author Arundhati Roy, on charges of promoting “secessionist ideologies.”
According to police, the raids targeted materials that allegedly misguide the youth and glorify terrorism. A statement issued on social media claimed the operation focused on “materials promoting secessionist ideologies or glorifying terrorism,” urging public cooperation to maintain peace.
Islamic literature was also seized from homes and shops, echoing a similar crackdown in February this year.
The ban was officially imposed on Tuesday, coinciding with the sixth anniversary of the Indian government’s direct rule over Jammu and Kashmir. However, enforcement began days later, drawing wider attention.
The banned list includes Roy’s 2020 essay collection Azadi: Freedom, Fascism, Fiction. Roy, 63, is a globally recognized author but remains a controversial figure in India for her sharp criticism of the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Other banned authors include leading constitutional expert A.G. Noorani and political scientist Sumantra Bose of the London School of Economics.
Kashmiri religious leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq denounced the move as authoritarian, stating that banning books “will not erase historical facts or the lived memories of Kashmiris.” Historian Siddiq Wahid also criticized the ban, calling it unconstitutional and a blow to academic freedom.
“The banned books are authored by individuals and institutions that rely on evidence and argument,” Wahid said. “Does that count for anything anymore?”
The ban has sparked fresh concerns over growing censorship and the silencing of critical voices in the disputed region.
