Srinagar, Aug. 8 -- Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor's order of banning 25 books, some of them by acclaimed national and international authors, has raised many eyebrows and elicited harsh reactions and condemnations. The government's home department has issued a notification for "forfeiture" of the 25 books to the government written by some prominent and acclaimed authors, political scientists and historians, including AG Noorani, Arundhati Roy, Sumantra Bose, Sugata Bose, Christopher Snedden and Victoria Schofield for allegedly propagating "false narrative and secessionism" in J&K. Most of these books are written on Kashmir conflict, politics, history and human rights. The order has attracted surprise and condemnation from many circles. Prominent journalist and editor of Kashmir Times, Anuradha Bhasin, whose book is on the list, said that the government was "scared of words". " I've read most of these books & written one. They're well researched & not one glorifies terrorism which this government claims to have ended. Scared of words challenging your lies!," Bhasin said. Another prominent journalist Aarti Tickoo Singh said: "I am aghast at this idiotic order issued by the LG Manoj Sinha/Omar Abdullah/Modi government ...In fact, how can the Indian government ban any book at all? I may disagree with most of the books on their list, but I will never support banning literature... I would rather rebut a view than not read it. It's moronic to ban books or any literature -especially in the age of the internet and free e-books." Hurriyat leader and chief priest of Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that the ban on books won't erase history. "Banning books by scholars and reputed historians will not erase historical facts and the repertoire of lived memories of people of Kashmir!," he said on X. National Conference spokesperson, Imran Nabi Dar, said, "If there is evidence that these books incite violence or glorify terrorism , the government is justified in banning them. But banning well-researched, critical works like AG Noorani, published by reputable publishers raises concerns," he said. The government ordered the forfeiture of the books under section 98 of Bhartiya Nagrika Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The Peoples Democratic Party said "This is not just an assault on literature but a dangerous precedent that undermines very foundation of democratic discourse. Governments may disagree with a viewpoint, but silencing it through censorship is a sign of weakness, not strength," the party spokesperson said. J&K Police on Thursday raided various books shops across the Valley looking for "prohibited" content. Police teams across all police stations conducted checking of various bookshops and establishments dealing in printed publications....