Now VPN Use Banned in South Kashmir District – Alfaaz – The Words

Srinagar: Authorities have suspended the use of Virtual Private Network services in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, after a similar ban was imposed in north Kashmir’s Kupwara earlier today.

Shopian Police said the Deputy Commissioner has ordered the suspension of VPN services across the district with immediate effect. The order will remain in force until further directions. The decision has been taken on security grounds.

Authorities said VPN services can be misused in ways that hinder lawful monitoring and pose risks to public order and public safety.

Police urged residents to comply with the directive and cooperate with the district administration. Any violation of the order will invite strict legal action under relevant provisions of law.

Earlier, authorities in Kupwara had imposed a blanket ban on VPN services under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, citing a surge in suspicious online activity. The Kupwara order followed inputs from senior police officers who flagged increased VPN usage by unidentified users.

Officials had said misuse of VPNs could threaten cyber security, digital governance, and public order. The restrictions in Kupwara apply to individuals, institutions, cyber cafes, and internet service providers, with exemptions only for government authorised VPNs.