The Assam government has banned all forms of radical and “jihadist” literature associated with outlawed extremist organisations by invoking Section 98 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) of 2023.
The December 3 notification issued by the State’s Political (A) Department prohibits the “publication, printing, circulation, distribution, sale, exhibition, possession and storage, whether physical or digital, of any radical or jihadi literature, documents, materials, or digital content” associated with Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), Ansar-al-Islam/pro-AQIS, and similar banned outfits.
The order followed a communication from the Assam Police and observations from the Judicial Department, warning that such literature threatens India’s sovereignty, internal security, communal harmony, and public order. The notification underscored the status of these organisations as terrorist groups under Section 35 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The government noted that intelligence reports, cyber-patrolling inputs and recent investigations by the Assam Police and its Special Task Force indicate continued circulation and possession of radical publications in print and digital formats. The banned content reportedly glorifies violent jihad, providing ideological indoctrination, offering operational guidance, and encouraging recruitment into extremist networks.
