Srinagar, Dec 29: Authorities in South Kashmir’s Shopian district today ordered the immediate suspension of Virtual Private Network (VPN) services, citing security considerations and a surge in suspicious online activity. This development follows a similar ban implemented in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district earlier the same day.
The order, issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Shopian, states that the suspension is necessary to maintain public order and ensure safety. Police officials said that the measure was prompted by the potential misuse of VPN services, which can be used to bypass lawful monitoring and hide digital footprints.
The Shopian administration has requested residents to adhere strictly to the directive and cooperate with the police. The order warns that any non-compliance or violation will result in strict legal action under the relevant provisions of the law. The suspension remains in effect until further orders.
This crackdown aligns with recent security protocols observed in other parts of the Union Territory, including Rajouri, Poonch, and Kathua, where similar restrictions were placed on VPN usage to prevent the spread of inflammatory content and mitigate cyber-security risks.
