PVLF 2025

Kashmir Police Seize 650+ Books in Crackdown on Dissent

Kashmir police raid bookstores, seizing 650+ books linked to banned group Jamaat-e-Islami, sparking concerns over censorship and fundamental rights.
on Feb 20, 2025

Most books were authored by Islamic scholars who established an Islamic group outlawed in the disputed territory

Dozens of bookstores have been raided by the police in Kashmir and over 650 books have been confiscated during crackdowns against dissent in the Indian-held region.

The majority of the books were authored by Abul A'la Maududi, a leading Islamic scholar of the 20th century who established Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamic group outlawed in Kashmir.

Raids started last Friday in Srinagar, the main city of Kashmir, before extending to other areas of the disputed territory. In a press release, Srinagar police stated that the raids were "based on credible intelligence regarding the clandestine sale and distribution of literature promoting the ideology of a banned organisation", and that 668 books were confiscated in total.

The books were largely brought out by Markazi Maktaba Islami Publishers, New Delhi, which is a part of the Indian chapter of Jamaat-e-Islami, one of the largest political and religious groups in the Indian subcontinent.

"These books were discovered to be in contravention of legal laws, and severe action is being initiated against those who have been found possessing such material," police stated.

In February 2019, Indian authorities banned Jamaat-e-Islami, declaring it an “unlawful association”, for five years. In August that year, Narendra Modi’s government scrapped the region’s partial autonomy. The repression of human rights in the region has since escalated.

Jamaat-e-Islami leaders stated that the confiscation of books "is unjust, unconstitutional, and against fundamental rights", and that the books are "legally published" in Delhi. "If the government has any security issues, we are ready to cooperate with any investigation."

"The method used right now is arbitrary and unjustified, as it does not even come within the ambit of a proper investigation", they asserted. "It is rather an effort to alienate us."

The conflict in Kashmir started after the independence of India from Britain in 1947, and India and Pakistan both claimed the territory. Insurgent groups have long battled Indian control for decades, and tens of thousands have died in the war.

When armed insurgency erupted in 1989, Kashmir's most influential militant group, Hizbul Mujahideen, stated it was the military wing of Jamaat-e-Islami. Yet in a petition against the 2019 ban, Jamaat-e-Islam asserted it had "never been supportive of violence" and "never been connected with the Hizbul Mujahideen". Last year in February, the prohibition on the organisation was renewed for another five years.

Hundreds of books confiscated from Kashmir bookstores as Indian police crack down on opposition

Many of the works by Islamic scholar who established Islamic organisation banned in disputed territory

Ella Creamer Police in Kashmir raided dozens of bookshops and confiscated over 650 books during crackdowns on opposition in the Indian-held territory.

The majority of the titles were penned by Abul A'la Maududi, a celebrated 20th-century Islamic scholar and founder of Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamic group banned in Kashmir.

Raids commenced last Friday in Srinagar, the largest city in Kashmir, before expanding to other regions of the disputed territory. In a statement, Srinagar police stated that the raids were "based on credible intelligence about the clandestine sale and distribution of literature spreading the ideology of a banned organization", and that 668 books were confiscated altogether.

The books were largely brought out by Markazi Maktaba Islami Publishers, New Delhi, which is part of the Indian branch of Jamaat-e-Islami, the largest religious and political organization in the Indian subcontinent.

"These books were discovered to be in contravention of legal guidelines, and strict action is being initiated against the people found possessing such material," police stated.

Indian officials prohibited Jamaat-e-Islami, terming it an "unlawful association", in February 2019 for five years. In August of that same year, the government of Narendra Modi canceled partial autonomy for the region. Suppressing human rights in the territory has worsened since.

Jamaat-e-Islami leaders described the seizure of books as "unjust, unconstitutional, and a violation of fundamental rights", and asserted that the books are "legally published" in Delhi. "If the government has any security concerns, we are fully prepared to cooperate with any investigation."

"The present course of action seems arbitrary and unjust, as it does not even come within the purview of a valid inquiry", they further added. "Rather, it seems an effort to isolate us."

The conflict in Kashmir started after India achieved independence from Britain in 1947, and both India and Pakistan laid claim to the region. Insurgent groups have battled Indian rule for decades, and tens of thousands have died in the fighting.

When open rebellion erupted in 1989, Kashmir's biggest militant organization, Hizbul Mujahideen, announced that it was the armed wing of Jamaat-e-Islami. In a petition for the lifting of the 2019 ban, however, Jamaat-e-Islam asserted it had "never endorsed violence" and "never been linked with the Hizbul Mujahideen". Last February, the ban was renewed for a further five years.

Policing the mind through the seizure of books is ridiculous, to say the least, in the age of access to all information on virtual highways.".

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