Jammu & Kashmir: Book glorifying terrorists as martyrs supplied to government schools

• Book portrays terrorist Maqbool Bhat as ‘martyr’ and separatists as ‘freedom fighters’

• Controversial publication supplied to government schools under the State Government’s Samagra Shiksha scheme

Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir – While on one hand the government claims normalcy in the state, on the other hand, an incident has come to light where material glorifying violence has been made available to the new generation. Books supplied to government school libraries under the Samagra Shiksha scheme were found to contain content glorifying terrorists and separatist leaders. In the book titled ‘Great and Legendary Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir’, terrorist Maqbool Bhat has been presented as a ‘martyr’ and separatist leaders as ‘freedom fighters’. This book has been published by a private publishing firm named Oberoi Book Services, and authored by Hilal Ahmed and Santosh Meena.

J&K School Book Sparks Outrage Over Portraying Separatists As ‘Great Personalities’; BJP Hits Out#Jammu #Kashmir https://t.co/beLVfRfBsi

— ABP LIVE (@abplive) July 4, 2026

1. 1. Making this book public, the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Forum has questioned the intentions of the state government and demanded action against the people concerned.
   2. The Vice President of the Forum, Raghu Mehta, and Trustee, Deepak Kapoor, stated that in the book, terrorist Maqbool Bhat has been portrayed as ‘Shaheed-e-Azam’ and separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Masarat Alam, and Maulvi Farooq have been depicted as ‘freedom fighters of Kashmir’.
   3. The state government purchased this book for the academic year 2025-26 under the Samagra Shiksha scheme and made it available in the libraries of all government schools in the state.
   4. In a chapter based on Maqbool Bhat in the book, India has been described as an ‘aggressor’. Furthermore, it has also been written that Maqbool made a sacrifice for the freedom of Kashmir.
   5. Whereas the reality is that Maqbool Bhat was hanged on 11th February 1984 for the murder of an Indian diplomat and Amar Chand, a police officer of the then Crime Investigation Department.

Maqbool Bhat – Terrorist
Shabir Shah – Separatist
Abdul Gani Lone – Separatist
Masarat – Stone Pelter
Hashim Qureshi – Terrorist
Mirwazi Maulvi – Separatist
Sayed Ali Shah Geelani – Hurriyat Separatist.

But according to Academic Book of J&K they are Personalities and Legend… pic.twitter.com/Dj61tJ6OkW

— Ashish K 🇮🇳 (@KpNationalist) July 4, 2026

Eight education officers suspended, enquiry ordered

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has taken major action after material related to separatism was found in two books purchased for government school libraries. Following the directives of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, the School Education Department has suspended eight education officers, and the services of one contractual employee have been terminated. Additionally, orders for a departmental inquiry into the matter have also been issued. Officials stated that the Counter Intelligence Wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police registered an FIR on Saturday regarding the case of allegedly glorifying separatists in two controversial publications and has initiated raids. 

The administration stated that there was gross negligence and a lack of proper scrutiny in the selection process, which allowed books containing such material to reach schools. This has been deemed a serious lapse on the part of government employees. 

The suspended officials include a total of eight officers, including the Coordinator Library of Samagra Shiksha, Assistant Coordinator, and Principals and Lecturers from various districts. All of them will remain attached to the administrative department during the suspension period. 

Apart from this, a contractual computer assistant has been removed from service with immediate effect. The administration has also blacklisted the authors and publishers concerned and issued instructions to withdraw all material published by them from the Union Territory.