Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday said they had seized 668 books linked to a banned organization during a search operation in Srinagar. The police claimed the books promoted the ideology of the banned group.
A police spokesperson said, “Based on credible intelligence, we conducted a search and seized literature promoting the ideology of a banned organization.” Without naming the group or the author, police confirmed that legal action had been initiated under Section 126 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS).
The books are linked to Maulana Abul A’la Maududi, the founder of Jamaat-e-Islami. The police said they have initiated legal action under Section 126 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS).
A bookstore owner in Lal Chowk, Srinagar’s largest market, confirmed the raid. “The police arrived around 3:30 PM on Thursday. They asked about banned books and then seized books by Maulana Maududi and Islahi,” he told The Wire.
Most of the books were published by MMI Publishers, a Delhi-based publishing house that has been printing religious literature since 1948.
The seizure has sparked strong reactions from political leaders, who see it as an attack on religious freedoms.
National Conference leader Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi called the move “state oppression and intolerance.” He said, “First, Shab-e-Barat prayers at Jama Masjid were barred, and the masjid was sealed. Now, even books are being taken away. Will the state now decide what Kashmiris can read and believe?”
“If that wasn’t enough, there are reports of police seizing literature by Maulana Maududi (RA). Will the state now dictate what Kashmiris read, learn, and believe? This is an unacceptable overreach. If such an order exists, it must be revoked immediately.”
PDP leader Iltija Mufti also criticized the seizure, stating, “The elephant in the room is that all these books are written by Maulana Maududi, a renowned Islamic scholar. Jamaat-e-Islami has done commendable social work in Kashmir and even participated in the recent state elections.”
Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shamim Ahmad warned that such actions could further alienate Kashmiris. “This is a denial of freedom of expression. Seizing these books will only fuel resentment and create more tensions in the region,” he said.
Maulana Abul A’la Maududi (1903-1979) was an Islamic scholar, philosopher, and political thinker. He founded Jamaat-e-Islami in 1941 and advocated for an Islamic society governed by Shari’ah law. His books, including “Tafhim al-Qur’an”, have been widely read across the Muslim world.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) first banned Jamaat-e-Islami J&K on February 28, 2019, citing security concerns. The ban was extended for another five years on February 27, 2024. Despite the ban, some Jamaat-backed candidates contested the recent Jammu and Kashmir elections, but none were elected.
