Authorities in Kashmir conduct raids on local shops, enforcing a ban on books imposed by India.

In a move that has sparked widespread criticism, the Indian-administered region of Kashmir has imposed a ban on 25 books, including works by renowned authors and scholars. The ban, which was announced on the sixth anniversary of India's imposition of direct rule over Kashmir, has been condemned as an attack on freedom of expression and cultural rights.

The books in question have been accused of "exciting secessionism" and "playing a critical role in misguiding the youth" against India. Notable authors on the list include Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy and several academics.

The ban was implemented by Manoj Sinha, India's top administrator in Kashmir, who continues to wield substantial authority in the region. The government in Kashmir, brought to power by local elections last year, is largely powerless in the face of this decision.

The first local elections in Kashmir since 2019 took place last year, but the government they brought to power has proven to be ineffective. The elections, according to critics, resulted in a powerless government that cannot challenge the national government's representative, Manoj Sinha.

The raids on bookstores, carried out by police, targeted materials promoting secessionist ideologies or glorifying terrorism. Similar book raids were carried out earlier in February, seizing books including Islamic literature from homes and shops in the Muslim-majority region of Kashmir.

Separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who condemned the ban, described it as a reflection of the Indian government's insecurities and limited understanding. Farooq also called the ban "authoritarian," and posted on his social media account that banning books by scholars and reputed historians will not erase historical facts.

The Kashmiri separatists have joined in the condemnation of the book ban, describing it as an attempt to silence dissent. The accusations against India suggest an attempt to stifle voices that question the government's policies in Kashmir, where human rights abuses and repression have been a longstanding concern.

Public cooperation was solicited to "uphold peace and integrity," but the move has instead stirred up controversy and raised questions about the Indian government's commitment to freedom of expression and cultural rights in Kashmir. The ban on books in Kashmir is a divisive issue that continues to spark debate and controversy.