Jammu & Kashmir police have detained three publishers after two books glorifying separatist and anti‑national elements were found in government school libraries. The incident triggered the suspension of several education officials and a comprehensive inquiry into the content‑selection process.
मुख्य बिंदु (Key Takeaways)
- Three publishers arrested for supplying separatist‑praising books to school libraries.
- Over 100 copies of each book had already reached schools before being flagged.
- Education department officials suspended and a formal inquiry launched.
On Sunday, Jammu & Kashmir police took into custody three publishers accused of distributing two books that glorify separatist leaders and anti‑national narratives in government school libraries. The arrests include Inderpaul of Jammu‑based Oberoi Book Service, and Amardeep Singh and Girish Arora of Noida‑based Dominant Publishers.
Controversial Titles and Authors
The two titles under scrutiny are “Personalities and Legends of J&K” by Hilal Ahmad and Santosh Meena, and “Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir” by Sushant Giri. Both books portray separatist figures as heroes, prompting accusations of subversive content that could undermine national cohesion.
Political Fallout and Administrative Action
On July 4, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha suspended eight education department officials, dismissed a contractual staff member, and ordered a full‑scale inquiry after intense objections from the BJP, Congress and other regional parties. They argued that the books, circulated under the central Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, contained “inappropriate content” that violated the spirit of the programme.
Selection Process Under Samagra Shiksha
The Samagra Shiksha scheme set up sub‑committees to vet books before allocating library grants. Out of 463 shortlisted titles, these two titles were later flagged during content review. However, by that point more than 100 copies of each had already been dispatched to schools, revealing a gap between flagging and actual removal.
Investigation and Future Implications
Police raids on July 6 targeted the Samagra Shiksha office in Jammu and the Noida publisher’s premises to uncover how the flagged books entered school libraries despite red‑flag alerts. Experts warn that this episode highlights the need for stricter oversight, independent expert panels, and clearer guidelines to prevent politicised content from infiltrating educational resources.
