Srinagar, July 5: The Jammu and Kashmir government has taken significant administrative and legal action regarding a controversial book allegedly glorifying separatists and terrorists in school libraries. Eight officials have been suspended with immediate effect for negligence in approving these disputed books. A departmental inquiry has also been ordered, and raids are being conducted at the premises of the involved publishers.
An FIR has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) at the Counter Intelligence Police Station in Jammu. Investigating agencies have seized both physical and digital evidence during the raids at the publishers’ locations.
The controversy centers around two books: the first, “Personalities and Legends of Jammu and Kashmir,” authored by Hilal Ahmed and Santosh Meena, published by Oberoi Book Service, Jammu; and the second, “Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir,” written by Dr. Sushant Giri and published by Anurag Publications, Delhi. Both books have been accused of glorifying separatists and terrorists.
According to government orders, 123 copies of the first book were distributed in Jammu, Ramban, and Udhampur districts, while 128 copies of the second book were circulated in Jammu and Baramulla districts. The government claims that these books contain material that could disrupt law and order. The order states that the sub-committee recommending the books and the supervising officials displayed serious negligence and failed to exercise necessary caution.
The suspended officials include Fazil Imran Siddiqui, Gurjeet Singh, Sanjeev Sharma, Shazia Kausar, Imtiaz Ahmed Mir, Niranjan Sharma, Renu Mengi, and Rajmohini. Additionally, the services of Sheikh Suhail Ahmed, a computer assistant working on a contract basis in the Department of School Education, have also been terminated immediately.
The government has appointed senior IAS officer Ashwani Kumar as the inquiry officer and JKAS officer Rohit Sharma as the presenting officer for this investigation. The inquiry officer has been directed to submit his report within 30 days.
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