Maharashtra bans 114 radical publications linked to terror groups, cites public order threat

The Maharashtra government has banned 114 items of radical literature associated with terrorist organisations, including the Islamic State, Al Qaeda, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, and the Islamic State in Khorasan Province. The ban, notified via a gazette on August 6, 2026, comes after the State Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) flagged the material as glorifying violent extremism and promoting radicalisation.

The Home Department’s notification said the literature was being circulated, possessed, and transmitted across the state. It added that ATS investigations and cyber surveillance reports pointed to the continued spread of extremist propaganda linked to banned outfits. The government has directed authorities to forfeit the listed items, which include magazines, books, and other publications.

Among the banned items are 44 issues of Voice of Khurasan, a magazine linked to the Islamic State, along with titles such as Why Should You Join the Islamic State and Nida-e-Khurasan-Urdu. Also banned are issues of The Revolutionary Resurgence, associated with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, and Nawai Ghazwa-e-Hind, reportedly linked to Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).

The authorities said these publications pose a threat to public law and order and internal security. They contain material that glorifies violent extremism, provides ideological indoctrination, and may be used for recruitment. The notification also stated that such content incites or encourages acts prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India.

The decision follows a series of ATS operations across Maharashtra. In February 2026, the ATS conducted searches at 21 locations in Yavatmal and Ahilyanagar districts, questioning 14 suspects and seizing documents, laptops, and mobile phones with objectionable content. In November 2025, the ATS arrested Zubair Hangargekar, a 37-year-old software engineer from Pune, for allegedly spreading content questioning democracy and advocating ideas against the Indian Constitution.

In March 2026, the ATS recommended to the state government that certain publications be banned, citing provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The notification specifically referenced Sections 152, 196, 197, and 299 of the law, which deal with acts endangering sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India, as well as promoting enmity between groups.

Legal experts note that the ban is an administrative measure under existing laws, but they also caution that such actions must be implemented without curtailing legitimate freedom of expression. The government has maintained that the move is targeted at material that incites violence and is not aimed at peaceful dissent.

This is not the first time Maharashtra has acted against extremist literature, but the scale and specificity of the list mark a significant step. The ban underscores the state’s commitment to addressing radicalisation while raising questions about how such material is tracked and regulated in the digital age.