Srinagar: Police on Thursday launched a coordinated raids in the Kashmir Valley, which allegedly seized destructive books from bookstores and literary places, including the Chiner Book Festival at the SKICC on the banks of Lake Dal. Crackdown followed J&K administration banning 25 titles under Section 98 of BNSS.Police seized five copies of the untold story of Kashmir “after Article 370” by Anuradha Bhasin, two copies of the “Kashmir dispute, 1947-2012” by AG Noorani, and a copy of “Kashmir on Kashmir” from Bookstore to Kashmir.On Tuesday, the order of the Home Department announced all copies of the listed books – whether organized by people or organizations – responsible for seizing, citing dangers for national unity and sovereignty. The department reports to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.The press statements of the District Police Headquarters described action as part of the ongoing rift on the publications that allegedly promote separatist ideologies, glorifying terrorism, or broadcasting perverted historical narratives.The Srinagar police said, “The purpose of the operation was to identify, confiscate and force, forcibly, which promotes false narratives or pose a threat to India’s unity,” Srinagar Police said.In Anantnag, police said that all the police stations were inspected. A district statement has been read that to curb the enforcement material, “who glorifies terrorism, enhances security forces, or contribute to the young fundamentalist,” curbs “. The officials urged the people to report the possession or circulation of banned materials.The move strongly criticized political and religious voices throughout the region. The CPM opposed the ban and demanded immediate cancellation. Former CM and opposition PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said: “Democracy thrives on free exchange of ideas. Banning of books cannot erase history, it does not just divide fuel.”Kashmir’s main cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq called the ban “demonstration of insecurity and limited understanding” by the people behind it. He said, “It lies in hosting a literary festival, disgruntling the contradiction literature,” he said.
