Authorities have officially suspended the use of Virtual Private Network (VPN) services in the Shopian district of South Kashmir. This move comes just hours after a similar ban was enforced in the North Kashmir district of Kupwara.
The District Police Shopian confirmed that the Deputy Commissioner has issued an order suspending VPN services across the entire district with immediate effect.
Reason for the Ban
According to the official statement, the decision has been taken on security grounds. Authorities expressed concern that VPN services are being misused to:
Hinder lawful monitoring of digital communications.
Pose risks to public order and public safety.
The order states that the suspension will remain in force until further directions.
Police Advisory & Legal Action
The Shopian Police have urged all residents to comply with the directive and cooperate with the district administration.
Strict Action: Any violation of this order will invite strict legal action under relevant provisions of the law.
Context: Earlier Ban in Kupwara
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Earlier today, authorities in Kupwara imposed a blanket ban on VPN services under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Trigger: The ban followed inputs from senior police officers flagging a “surge in suspicious online activity” and increased VPN usage by unidentified users.
Scope: The restrictions in Kupwara apply to individuals, institutions, cyber cafes, and ISPs, with exemptions only for government-authorized VPNs.
Concerns: Officials stated that unchecked VPN use could threaten cybersecurity and digital governance.
Summary:
Residents in both Shopian and Kupwara are now prohibited from using unauthorized VPNs. The administration has cited the need to curb suspicious online activities that evade monitoring. Citizens are advised to remove such apps to avoid legal complications.