SRINAGAR: Police launched Thursday coordinated raids throughout Kashmir valley, seizing allegedly subversive books from bookstores and literary venues, together with Chinar e book pageant underway at SKICC on the banks of Dal Lake. The crackdown adopted J&Ok administration banning 25 titles beneath part 98 of BNSS.Police confiscated 5 copies of “A Dismantled State: The Untold Story of Kashmir After Article 370” by Anuradha Bhasin, two copies of “The Kashmir Dispute, 1947–2012” by AG Noorani, and one copy of “Kashmir on the Crossroads” by Sumantra Bose from bookstores in Srinagar.On Tuesday, the house division’s order declared all copies of the listed books — whether or not held by folks or organisations — liable to forfeiture, citing threats to nationwide unity and sovereignty. The division studies to lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha.Press statements from district police headquarters described the motion as a part of an ongoing crackdown on publications allegedly selling secessionist ideologies, glorifying terrorism, or disseminating distorted historic narratives.“The target of the operation was to establish, seize, and forfeit literature that propagates false narratives or poses a risk to the unity of India,” Srinagar police mentioned.Police in Anantnag mentioned inspections had been carried out throughout all police station jurisdictions. The enforcement aimed to curb materials “that glorifies terrorism, vilifies safety forces, or contributes to youth radicalisation,” a district assertion learn. Authorities urged folks to report possession or circulation of banned content material.The transfer drew sharp criticism from political and non secular voices throughout the area. CPM opposed the ban and demanded its fast revocation. Former CM and opposition PDP president Mehbooba Mufti mentioned: “Democracy thrives on the free alternate of concepts. Banning books can not erase historical past, it solely fuels division.”Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq referred to as the ban an “publicity of insecurity and restricted understanding” by these behind it. “The contradiction lies in internet hosting a literary pageant whereas silencing dissenting literature,” he mentioned.