Maharashtra Bans 114 Items of Radical Terrorist Literature

The Government of Maharashtra banned 114 items of radical and extremist literature on August 6, 2026, citing threats to internal security and public order. The Maharashtra Home Department issued a gazette notification ordering the immediate forfeiture of books, magazines, documents, and digital content linked to outlawed terrorist organizations, including the Islamic State, Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, and the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Pir Panjal Regiment.

Banned materials include 44 issues of the Voice of Khurasan magazine, titles such as The Revolutionary Resurgence and Modern Warfare, and tactical manuals on creating explosives and suicide rockets. The action follows investigations and cyber surveillance by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad, which identified materials that glorify jihad and facilitate recruitment.

Invoking Section 98(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the order empowers police officers across India to seize these materials and allows magistrates to issue search warrants for premises suspected of storing or distributing the content. State authorities stated the measure is necessary to prevent ideological indoctrination and protect youth from radicalization networks, asserting that the circulation of such content is prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India.