Srinagar, July 4: The Jammu and Kashmir School Education Department, on the directions of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, has suspended eight education officials and disengaged a contractual employee after two library books supplied to government schools were found to contain alleged separatist content.

The books, selected under the Samagra Shiksha library scheme for government and PM SHRI schools, were withdrawn after the issue came to light. The administration said the selection process showed serious negligence and lack of due diligence by the concerned committee members.

An inquiry has been ordered, with IAS officer Ashwani Kumar appointed as the Inquiry Officer. The report is to be submitted within 30 days.

The suspended officials will remain attached to the School Education Department during the suspension period. The government has also blacklisted the authors and publishers of the two books and ordered the withdrawal of all their publications from schools across Jammu and Kashmir.