J&K Arrests Publishers Over Textbooks Glorifying Separatists

The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has arrested three publishers and suspended eight School Education Department officials following the distribution of two textbooks that allegedly glorify separatists and militants. The books, titled "Personalities and Legends of J&K" and "Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir," were supplied to school libraries in the Jammu, Ramban, Udhampur, and Baramulla districts under the Samagra Shiksha scheme.

Critics, including the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples' Forum, alleged the texts portrayed figures such as Maqbool Bhat and Syed Ali Shah Geelani as legends and used terminology like "Indian-occupied Kashmir." Leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma condemned the distribution as "academic jihad." In response, the administration withdrew 251 copies of the books on July 3, 2026, and blacklisted the involved authors and publishers.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ordered the suspension of eight officials and the termination of one contractual employee, citing serious negligence and a lack of due diligence. He also appointed Ashwani Kumar to lead a formal inquiry into the procurement lapse. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated he would comment after reviewing the contents of the books.

On July 12, the Counter Intelligence Kashmir unit of the Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested Inderpaul Singh of Oberoi Book Service, as well as Amardeep Singh and Girish Arora of Dominant Publishers. The three men were remanded to 10-day police custody by a Jammu court. They face charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for criminal conspiracy and endangering the sovereignty and integrity of India.