Overview
- Kishtwar district imposed an immediate ban on all VPN services under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, through an order by District Magistrate Pankaj Sharma.
- The Kishtwar directive applies to individuals, institutions, cyber cafes and internet service providers, with access allowed only through explicit government permission, and it warns of strict legal action for violations.
- The Kishtwar order cites cybersecurity, public order and national security concerns, alleging VPN misuse to spread misleading content, incite unrest, bypass lawful blocks and coordinate unlawful activities.
- Kathua district enforced a separate two-month suspension of VPN services starting December 24, ordered by District Magistrate Rajesh Sharma, with the Senior Superintendent of Police tasked with strict enforcement.
- Similar two-month suspensions were previously ordered in Rajouri on November 29 and Poonch on November 30, with an earlier VPN suspension issued in Doda on May 6, indicating a recurring district-by-district approach.