J&K Book Row: 3 Publishers in Custody for 'Pro-Separatist' Content!

A significant development unfolded this week as three publishers were remanded to 10-day police custody by a court in Jammu. This action stems from an ongoing investigation into the alleged publication and circulation of books that reportedly glorify separatist leaders, which found their way into government libraries.

The Counter Intelligence Unit in Jammu initiated the arrests on Sunday, July 12, as part of its probe into the controversial books. The titles under scrutiny are 'Personalities and Legends of J&K', authored by Hilal Ahmad and Santosh Meena, and published by Jammu-based Oberoi Book Service, and 'Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir', penned by Sushant Giri and published by Delhi-based Anurag Prakashan. Noida-based Dominant Publishers were also linked to the distribution of such material.

The arrested individuals include Inderpaul from Oberoi Book Service, and Amardeep Singh and Girish Arora, both associated with Dominant Publishers. They were presented virtually before the court on Monday, July 13, which subsequently granted the police remand to allow for further investigation into the matter. Authorities had conducted raids on the premises of these publishers on July 6, leading up to the arrests.

This controversy is not new to these publishers; both Oberoi Book Service and Dominant Publishers had previously been blacklisted by the government. The legal framework invoked includes sections from the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 49 (abetment), 61(2) (criminal conspiracy), 152 (endangering sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India), 196 (promoting enmity, disharmony), and 353 (publishing false statements). Additionally, Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) has also been applied.

The case gained momentum shortly after Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha took swift action. He suspended eight officials from the School Education Department, dismissed a contractual staff member, and ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the two controversial books, citing "highly inappropriate content." The broader investigation aims to uncover how these books managed to reach school libraries despite established scrutiny processes.

This incident highlights the sensitive nature of educational content in the region and the rigorous efforts by authorities to prevent the dissemination of material deemed harmful to national unity and integrity.

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