New Delhi: Police in Handwara, north Kashmir, conducted raids on bookshops on Saturday, seizing literature allegedly linked to the Jamaat-e-Islami, sparking criticism and concerns about freedom of expression.
The operation, described by police as “well-coordinated and legally supervised,” focused on “sensitive areas” and involved the seizure of “banned books” deemed to violate legal regulations. Police claim the raids aimed to “curb the spread of unlawful content that could disturb public order.”
“The operation was aimed at curbing the spread of unlawful content that could disturb public order”, police said.
Bookshop owners received warnings against stocking or selling banned literature and were informed about potential legal consequences. Police urged public vigilance and cooperation in reporting such activities. “Further investigations into the matter are underway, and appropriate legal action will be taken against those found guilty of violating the law”, police said.
This follows similar raids in Srinagar on Friday, where over 668 books were seized for allegedly promoting the ideology of a banned organisation, believed to be Jamaat-e-Islami. Police initiated legal action under Section 126 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.
The bookstore owner in Srinagar, who requested to remain anonymous while speaking to The Wire, said, “They (Police) inquired about the types of books we had, mentioning that certain books were banned. Eventually, they confiscated some works by Maududi and Islahi.”
Abul A’la Maududi, a prominent Islamic scholar from Pakistan, established the Jamaat-e-Islami, with its J&K wing founded in 1952. Amin Ahsan Islahi, a respected Muslim scholar from Pakistan, was also a founding member of the Jamaat.
Responding to the raids carried out by the police in Srinagar on Friday, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, a senior leader of the National Conference (NC) and Member of Parliament for the Srinagar parliamentary constituency, condemned the police raids, stating that they were an intrusion into the religious affairs of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“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,” Mehdi’s official X handle posted.
Interference in the religious affairs of Kashmiri Muslims is crossing a red line—it is blatant state oppression and intolerance. First the Shab-e-Barat prayers at Jama Masjid were barred and the masjid itself was sealed. 🧵 (1/3)
— Office of Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi (@Office_ASRM) February 14, 2025
Also, PDP leader Iltija Mufti condemned the raids, questioning the increasing restrictions on freedom in Kashmir. She highlighted the seizure of books authored by Abul Aala Maududi, founder of Jamaat-e-Islami, and emphasised the organisation’s social work and participation in elections.
“Days after a security review meeting in Delhi vicious raids were conducted throughout bookstores in Srinagar. Under the garb of ‘security’ all sorts of Kafkaesque oppressive measures are being unleashed on Kashmiris. Now even the freedom to read & consume information is being violated. Are we merely sheep or cattle that need to be herded?” Mufti asked in a tweet.
