In a significant move against the spread of extremist ideology, the Maharashtra government has ordered the confiscation of 114 publications and digital documents allegedly linked to banned terrorist organisations. The action forms part of a broader strategy to curb radicalisation and prevent the circulation of material that could threaten public order and national security.
The decision has been formalised through a Home Department gazette notification issued on August 6, 2026. The order authorises the forfeiture of both printed and electronic versions of the listed publications, bringing their printing, publication, sale, circulation, distribution, storage and display under government seizure.
The crackdown has been initiated under the provisions of Section 98(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, which empowers state authorities to seize publications considered harmful to the sovereignty, integrity and security of the country.
Officials indicated that the move follows intelligence assessments, cyber surveillance and investigations conducted by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which reportedly found that extremist literature continued to circulate through physical copies and digital platforms despite earlier restrictions.
According to the notification, the prohibited material allegedly promotes violent extremism, encourages radicalisation, and is capable of influencing recruitment into terrorist organisations. Authorities believe restricting access to such content is necessary to prevent the spread of anti-national propaganda and curb activities that could incite violence.
Among the publications included in the list are Voice of Khurasan Magazine, The Revolutionary Resurgence, Kashmir Kifah – Resilience & Courage, The Soul of Resistance, and Nawai Gazwa-e-Hind, along with several other documents allegedly associated with proscribed organisations.
The notification further states that the publications are linked to terrorist outfits such as the Islamic State (ISIS/IS), Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and the Pir Panjal Regiment of Hizbul Mujahideen, among others.
The state government has maintained that the latest action is intended to strengthen counter-terrorism efforts by preventing the dissemination of extremist content and disrupting attempts to spread radical ideology through literature and online material.
