India Bans 25 Books, Raids Bookstores Across Kashmir for 'False Narrative'

Indian authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have banned 25 books, including works by Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy and scholars like AG Noorani, accusing them of promoting secessionism, spreading false narratives, and inciting violence against the Indian state. The ban was enforced by the region's administration under Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, appointed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, coinciding with the sixth anniversary of the revocation of Kashmir's autonomous status in 2019. Police conducted raids on bookstores across Kashmir to confiscate these books, which include political commentaries, human rights documentation, and historical accounts of the disputed region. The government justified the ban citing investigations and intelligence that these books misguide youth and glorify terrorism, while critics, including the Internet Freedom Foundation and separatist leaders, condemned the move as authoritarian censorship that undermines free expression and academic inquiry. Kashmir remains a highly militarized and contested region with ongoing conflict and political restrictions following New Delhi's direct rule imposition. The ban has sparked concern over suppression of dissenting views and the erosion of democratic discourse in the region.