Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district have imposed a two-month suspension on all Virtual Private Network (VPN) services, citing urgent security concerns. This move marks the third such action in the Jammu region within a month, following similar bans in the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri.
Official Order Cites Misuse of VPN Services
The decisive order was issued by District Magistrate Rajesh Sharma on Wednesday, December 24. It mandates the immediate suspension of VPN access across the district. The directive has been enforced under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.
The administration stated that the preventive action was necessary because certain individuals and groups are misusing VPN services. They are reportedly using these tools to bypass government-imposed cyber restrictions and access prohibited applications, websites, and digital content.
Strict Enforcement and Legal Consequences
The ban applies comprehensively to all individuals, institutions, cyber cafes, and internet service providers (ISPs) operating within Kathua district. The only exceptions are entities that have received explicit, written permission from the government through an official order.
The order warns that any violation will invite legal action under the relevant provisions of the law. To ensure strict compliance, the Kathua Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) has been directed to oversee the enforcement of this directive.
A Pattern of VPN Bans in Jammu Region
Kathua's decision is part of a growing trend in the region. On November 30, Poonch District Magistrate Ashok Kumar Sharma ordered a two-month VPN suspension. The order highlighted an "unprecedented high usage of VPNs" by suspicious internet users at various locations in the district.
The Poonch administration explained that VPNs encrypt data transmission, create point-to-point tunnels, mask IP addresses, and circumvent website blocks and firewalls. This activity, they argued, makes sensitive data vulnerable to cyber-attacks and facilitates unlawful activities.
A day prior, on November 29, Rajouri District Magistrate Abhishek Sharma issued an identical order after receiving a communication from the local police. Earlier in the year, on May 6, the Doda administration had also suspended VPN services, citing public safety, cybersecurity, and the integrity of digital governance.
The consecutive orders from multiple districts underscore a heightened security focus in the Jammu region. Authorities are taking a firm stance against digital tools they believe can compromise state-imposed cyber controls and enable anonymous, potentially harmful online behavior.
