J&K Raids Bookstores After Banning 25 Books

The Jammu and Kashmir administration banned 25 books by prominent authors, including Arundhati Roy, AG Noorani, and Sumantra Bose, citing concerns over false narratives, secessionism, and the glorification of terrorism. Following the ban, police carried out widespread raids across the Kashmir Valley, targeting bookstores and a major book festival to confiscate the prohibited publications. Authorities claim the action is necessary to protect national sovereignty and prevent youth radicalization, while critics from political and civil society circles argue it suppresses free speech and academic freedom. The ban was announced on the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, intensifying ongoing debates over freedom of expression in the region. Authors whose works were targeted have publicly defended their research and intentions, rejecting accusations of promoting violence. The move has sparked controversy over the effectiveness and intent of literary censorship in the digital age.