Srinagar, Jan 4: Jammu and Kashmir Police have intensified enforcement against unauthorised Virtual Private Network (VPN) usage across the Kashmir Valley, identifying dozens of individuals for violating prohibitory orders imposed by district administrations on security grounds, officials said.
The administration has imposed a two-month ban on unauthorised VPN services across all districts, with district magistrates issuing immediate prohibitory orders as a preventive measure to safeguard public safety, cyber security and law and order.
Officials said VPNs, which encrypt internet traffic and mask user identities, can be misused to evade lawful digital monitoring during sensitive periods.
Senior police officials said verification and monitoring drives have been launched in multiple districts, including physical checks of mobile phones and installed applications.
In central Kashmir’s Budgam district, police identified 24 individuals between December 29, 2025, and January 2, 2026, during systematic verification exercises. Two FIRs were registered after technical analysis and background checks allegedly revealed adverse terror-related antecedents, police said.
Preventive action was also initiated against 11 individuals aged between 18 and 40 under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). They were later released on bonds with formal warnings.
In south Kashmir’s Shopian district, police identified 15 individuals during a district-wide drive, while in north Kashmir’s Sopore area, 23 persons were found violating orders issued by the District Magistrate, Baramulla. Similar checks were reported from Kulgam, where on-ground inspections were carried out in busy market areas.
The restriction has also been extended beyond the Valley, with the District Magistrate of Udhampur imposing a two-month ban citing similar security concerns.
Officials said VPNs are often used to bypass online restrictions imposed after security operations, including blocks on websites and social media accounts flagged for propaganda or misinformation. While VPNs are commonly used worldwide for privacy, authorities maintain that unauthorised use during heightened security periods poses risks warranting temporary restrictions.