Srinagar, April 25 -- Sohail Rauf's novel Blasphear begins with a chilling scene. A Hindu college teacher named Mohan is lynched by a mob after being falsely accused of blasphemy. His only crime was encouraging his students to think freely and embrace the arts. This violent act becomes the emotional center of a story that looks closely at the lasting damage caused by fear, silence, and unchecked power.

From there, Rauf moves into the lives of three people shaken by Mohan's death. Waqas, a weary police officer, is assigned to investigate the suicide of a young man connected to the case. Furqan, a university student, is haunted by the loss of his friend Hassan. Lubna, Hassan's sister, searches for meaning in the aftermath. Each of them bri...