Maha govt orders confiscation of radical, anti-national literature linked to banned terror outfits

The Maharashtra government has ordered the forfeiture of 114 extremist publications and digital propaganda materials linked to ISIS, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and AQIS. The crackdown, based on ATS intelligence, aims to curb radicalisation, recruitment and threats to India's sovereignty and public order

Mumbai: In a major administrative crackdown on violent extremism, the Maharashtra government’s Home Department has issued an official notification declaring the immediate forfeiture of over 100 radical publications, manuals, magazines, and digital propaganda materials.

The banned content is linked to globally outlawed terrorist groups, including the Islamic State (ISIS/ISKP), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, and Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). The order was published in the Maharashtra government gazette on August 6, under Notification No. SUT-0526/CR.276/SPL-4.

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The forfeiture declaration was invoked using powers under Section 98(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. Groundwork for the crackdown followed intelligence inputs, cyber surveillance reports, and multi-layered investigations conducted by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Mumbai.

The state home department noted that the order came after an official letter sent on March 17 by the Additional Director General of Police, ATS, Maharashtra State. The ATS highlighted that these documents, physical prints, photos, and digital materials attract serious penal offences under Sections 152, 196, 197, and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

The government notification confirmed that the materials contain ideologically violent extremist and jihadi propaganda designed to facilitate recruitment, promote radicalisation, and incite acts prejudicial to the sovereignty, integrity, and public order of India.

The gazette notification lists a total of 114 radical titles and instructional materials slated for immediate forfeiture. It lists the material to be forfeited titled Islamic State / ISIS / ISKP (Al-Azaim Media), including 47 separate issues of the magazine ‘Voice of Khurasan’ (Issues 1-26, 28-34, 36-38, and 40-47), audio/video propaganda such as ‘Tawheed Lectures’ broadcast by ‘Al-Bayan Radio’, pamphlets including “Are You Still Sitting?”, “Why Should You Join the Islamic State”, and ‘Nida e Khurasan’.

The material titled ‘Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (Pir Panjal Regiment)’ includes 17 editions of ‘The Revolutionary Resurgence’ (spanning October 2023 through December 2025).

Further, the material titled Al-Qaeda / AQIS / Regional Outfits includes 10 issues of ‘Kashmir Kifah – Resilience & Courage’, seven issues of ‘The Soul Of Resistance’ and 13 issues of ‘Nawai Gazwa e Hind’ (published between January 2024 and January 2026).

According to the notification, the material titled ‘Instructional Warfare & Operational Manuals’ includes tactical guides detailing weapon/explosive creation and operational secrecy, such as explosives — basics, petrol bomb – manual, how to make a suicide rocket (Zarqawi 1), chemical explosives based on Hydrogen Peroxide, how to stay anonymous, and a security and intelligence course.

Under the Section 98 forfeiture declaration, police officers across India are empowered to seize physical or digital copies of any listed publication wherever found. Furthermore, magistrates may issue warrants authorising police officers (not below the rank of Sub-Inspector) to enter and search any premises where such materials are suspected to be stored or distributed, said the notification.

State authorities emphasised that eliminating access to these materials in physical, electronic, and social media channels is crucial to protecting impressionable youth from radicalisation networks.