Maharashtra Govt Cracks Down On Terror Propaganda, Orders Forfeiture Of 114 Materials ‘Glorifying Extremism’

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has ordered the forfeiture of 114 radical and extremist publications, books, documents, photographs  and other material allegedly linked to terrorist organisations, citing concerns over radicalisation, recruitment and threats to public order and internal security.

 In a notification issued by the Home Department on August 6, the state government said intelligence inputs, cyber-surveillance reports and investigations conducted by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had revealed the continued circulation, dissemination, possession and transmission of radical and extremist literature and propaganda material, including through digital platform.

According to the notification, the material allegedly glorifies violent extremism and jihad, promotes radicalisation and ideological indoctrination, facilitates recruitment, and incites or encourages acts prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India. The government said such material posed a serious threat to public order, communal harmony and internal security. 

  The notification said the Additional Director General of Police, Maharashtra ATS, had informed the state government through a letter dated March 17, that certain newspapers, books, documents and other materials,  including paintings, drawings, photographs and other visible representations,needed to be forfeited. The government said the material was associated with activities prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state and public order, and attracted offences punishable under Sections 152, 196, 197 and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. 

The notification names several organisations whose literature and propaganda material are allegedly associated with the material identified by the ATS. These include the Islamic State (IS/ISIS), Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Pir Panjal Regiment and Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS),besides other organisations listed in the First Schedule of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

It also refers to associated websites, social media platforms, encrypted channels and digital networks allegedly propagating such content.

Among the 114 items listed in the annexure are multiple issues of Voice of Khurasan, published by Al-Azaim Media and identified in the notification as being associated with ISIS/ISKP. 

The list also includes The Revolutionary Resurgence, Kashmir Kifah – Resilience & Courage, 

The Soul of Resistance, Nawai Ghazwa-e-Hind, Modern Warfare, Al-Naba 481

The School of Yusuf, Tawheed Lectures and Hijra. 

Bangladesh – The Emerging Hope of Supporting Islam’ by Ustad Usama Mahmood

The Little Muwaheedin.   

Other titles on the list include How Can We Be Content With Abandoning Jihad, The Mujahideen Poisons Handbook, Explosives – Basics, Petrol Bomb – Manual, How to Stay Anonymous and Security and Intelligence Course. The annexure also lists How to make a suicide rocket (Zarqawi 1) – missile and other material associated with extremist organisations.

The government said the publication, circulation, distribution, sale, exhibition, possession and storage of such material, whether physical or digital, was prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state and public order.It further said that the continued availability and circulation of such publications and digital content could facilitate the dissemination of extremist ideology and increase the vulnerability of impressionable persons, particularly youth, to radicalisation. 

Exercising powers under Section 98(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, the government declared that every copy of the newspapers, books and documents, including paintings, drawings, photographs and other visible representations listed in the annexure, would be forfeited to the government.

To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/