The Maharashtra government has banned 114 items of literature linked to terrorist organisations, including Islamic State, Islamic State in Khorasan Province, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Pir Panjal Regiment and Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), citing concerns that the material glorifies violent extremism, promotes radicalisation and encourages unlawful activities. The ban was announced through a gazette notification issued by the state Home Department on Thursday. The government said intelligence inputs, cyber surveillance reports and investigations by the Anti-Terrorism Squad had indicated the continued circulation, possession and transmission of such material.

According to the notification, the banned material includes magazines, books, documents and other forms of propaganda associated with organisations involved in or supporting terrorist and unlawful activities. The government said the content promotes ideological indoctrination, facilitates recruitment and encourages acts considered prejudicial to India's sovereignty and integrity. It also cited concerns over the potential impact of such material on public order, communal harmony and internal security. The notification said the material was associated with terrorist organisations listed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, as well as related digital platforms and networks.

Among the 114 items are 44 issues of the magazine "Voice of Khurasan", along with publications titled "Are You Still Sitting", "Why Should You Join the Islamic State" and "Nida-e-Khurasan - 1 Urdu", which the government linked to Islamic State and its various manifestations, including ISKP and ISIS-K. The list also includes "The Revolutionary Resurgence", associated with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and its Pir Panjal Regiment, as well as "Nawai Gazawa e Hind", "School Of Yusuf" and "Modern Warfare", which the notification linked to Al Qaeda and AQIS. The government said associated websites, social media platforms, encrypted channels and digital networks were also covered by the action.

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Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Friday that some of the banned material contained content promoting radicalisation and information related to violent attacks, including bomb-making and lone-wolf attacks. He said the Maharashtra Public Security Act now provides a legal framework under which such material can be banned and action can be taken against those involved in circulating it. The gazette notification also referred to information provided to the government in March last year by senior police and ATS officials regarding newspapers, books, documents, paintings, drawings and photographs that they believed should be forfeited because of their association with activities prejudicial to India's sovereignty and integrity.

The Maharashtra government said it was satisfied that the material covered by the notification was connected with terrorist organisations, including Islamic State, ISKP, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Pir Panjal Regiment and AQIS, among others listed in the First Schedule of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The notification cited the continued availability and circulation of extremist propaganda as a security concern and said the material could contribute to radicalisation and recruitment. The latest action comes as state authorities seek to use the Maharashtra Public Security Act and other applicable laws to restrict the circulation of material that they consider a threat to public order and internal security.

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