Jammu and Kashmir suspends eight education officials and bans two school books over separatist content

The Jammu and Kashmir government withdrew two books – “Personalities and Legends of J&K” and “Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir” – after they were found in government school libraries to praise separatist leaders and describe the region as “Indian‑occupied”. The titles, procured under the centrally funded Samagra Shiksha scheme, had 123 copies distributed in Jammu, Ramban and Udhampur districts and 128 copies in Jammu and Baramulla districts.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ordered the suspension of eight School Education Department officials and the disengagement of a contractual staff member. An inquiry has been assigned to IAS officer Ashwani Kumar, with JKAS Rohit Sharma as presenting officer, and a report is due within 30 days.

The Counter‑Intelligence Wing of the J&K police registered an FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, seized documents from the publishers (Oberoi Book Service, Jammu and Anurag Prakashan, Delhi), and began raids. The authors and publishers have been blacklisted across the Union Territory.

Political parties, notably the BJP and opposition leader Sunil Sharma, have denounced the books as “academic jihad” and demanded further action against those responsible.