Jammu and Kashmir: Court remands 3 arrested publishers in police custody

JAMMU: A court in Jammu remanded Monday three arrested publishers to 10 days’ police custody in a case linked to two books allegedly carrying separatist and anti-national content that were supplied to govt school libraries in J&K.Inderpaul of Jammu-based Oberoi Book Service and Amardeep Singh and Girish Arora of Noida-based Dominant Publishers were taken into custody Sunday. “They were virtually produced before the court, which granted police remand for further investigation,” an official said.According to officials, sub-committees were set up to select books after library grants were received under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. They shortlisted 463 titles, but scrutiny later flagged two books — “Personalities and Legends of J&K” and “Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir”. By then, 100-plus copies of each book had reached schools.The books were withdrawn and an inquiry was ordered, while eight school education officials were suspended and a contractual staffer was dismissed. Govt blacklisted Oberoi Book Service and Dominant Publishers. Investigators are trying to find out how the books reached libraries despite red flags during content scrutiny.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.