Controversial book: police search Samagra Shiksha office in Jammu

The Jammu and Kashmir Police’s special wing, Counter Intelligence Jammu, on Monday (July 6, 2026) visited the office of Samagra Shiksha as part of an ongoing investigation to identify the people responsible for the book Great Personalities and Legends of J&K, which has profiled Kashmir separatist leaders such as Maqbool Bhat, Masarat Alam, Shabir Shah and Syed Ali Geelani. 

Officials said a team of the police’s special cell visited the headquarters of Samagra Shiksha office at Channi Himmat, Jammu. Many officials were questioned.

Around 251 copies of the book, authored by Hilal Ahmad and Santosh Meena, were circulated among schools in Jammu and Kashmir. Officials said four sub-committees of experts were constituted for selection.

Following protests by the BJP, a First Information Report has been registered.

The Lieutenant Governor administration already suspended eight officers and blacklisted two authors and publishers.

Comprehensive review

The J&K Samagra Shiksha on Monday (July 6, 2026) reconstituted verification committees to undertake a comprehensive review of all textbooks and library books procured under the Library Component for the academic session 2025–26. It has directed the committees “to ensure that no objectionable words, misleading references, inappropriate content or unsuitable material remain in any publication”

Meanwhile, the Samagra Shiksha decided to “withhold all payments to publishers until the verification process is completed”. “No publisher will receive payment unless the committees certify that the books fully comply with the prescribed academic and quality standards. All pending bills will remain suspended until the verification reports are submitted and approved by the competent authority,” it said.