J&K administration had last month imposed a blanket ban on the use of VPN services across the Valley

With police in the Kashmir Valley intensifying their crackdown on the use of Virtual Private Network (VPN) services in violation of prohibitory orders imposed by the administration, authorities have so far identified around 1,100 users across Kashmir, officials said.

Top Jammu and Kashmir Police sources told The Tribune that nearly 1,100 individuals have been identified over the past few days for using VPN services.

Last month, the Jammu and Kashmir administration imposed a blanket ban on the use of VPN services across the Valley. District administrations issued separate orders prohibiting the use of unauthorised VPNs for a period of two months with immediate effect.

Following the ban, police launched verification drives to identify violators. Sources said that so far around 1,100 people have been found using VPN services in violation of the orders.

Police sources said action against individuals depends on the nature of usage. “If they are found misusing the VPN, preventive action is initiated. If the usage is found to be innocuous, the individual is warned and advised accordingly,” a police source said.

Since the ban came into force, police in several districts have conducted verification exercises and initiated action. Videos circulated on social media showed police personnel checking mobile phones of individuals on the roads, a move that has drawn criticism from sections of the public in the Valley.

On Monday, police in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district said that as part of ongoing efforts to ensure public safety, cyber security and maintenance of law and order, preventive action was taken against individuals found using VPN services unauthorisedly.

During verification, 11 persons were found using VPN services illegally within the jurisdiction of Police Station Ganderbal and Police Station Kangan, police said.

“The individuals were bound down under Section 26 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to maintain good behaviour,” the police statement said.

Police in Ganderbal warned that any violation of lawful orders would invite strict legal action and urged the public to cooperate with law-enforcement agencies to maintain peace and security.

Senior police officials said the drive would continue in the coming days. “This is an ongoing process. We will continue to identify violators and take action against those found misusing VPN services,” a police official said.

Advertisement