Authorities in Indian-controlled Kashmir have conducted raids on bookstores in Srinagar, seizing hundreds of books associated with a major Islamic organization in the region. The police action, which began on Friday, targeted literature promoting the ideology of a banned organization, resulting in the confiscation of 668 books.
The seized books were primarily published by a New Delhi-based publisher affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, one of the largest Islamic and political organizations in the Indian subcontinent. Jamaat-e-Islami was banned in Kashmir in February 2019, prior to the revocation of the region's semi-autonomy in August 2019.
The majority of the confiscated books were authored by Abul Ala Maududi, a prominent twentieth-century Islamic scholar and founder of Jamaat-e-Islami. Police officers instructed booksellers to surrender any Maududi books and cease their sale. Additional raids were carried out in various parts of Kashmir to prevent the circulation of banned literature linked to the organization.
India and Pakistan both claim sovereignty over Kashmir, with militants in the Indian-controlled region fighting against Indian rule since 1989. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties among civilians, rebels, and government forces. While India views the insurgency as Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, many Kashmiris consider it a legitimate struggle for freedom.
The recent crackdown on books has sparked criticism in Kashmir, with local leaders denouncing the seizure as unjust and unconstitutional. Critics argue that the move could inadvertently generate interest in the banned literature among the region's youth, potentially undermining New Delhi's efforts to project stability and normalcy in Kashmir.
The policing of thought through book seizures has been widely condemned in Kashmir, with resistance leaders labeling the operation as absurd and counterproductive in an era of widespread access to information through digital platforms.
