Overview
- Poonch District Magistrate Ashok Kumar Sharma ordered an immediate halt to VPN services on November 30 under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.
- Rajouri District Magistrate Abhishek Sharma had already issued a separate order for a two-month suspension following a police communication citing public-safety risks.
- Police reported unusually high VPN use by suspicious users and warned that VPNs mask IP addresses, bypass website blocks and firewalls, and encrypt data in ways that hinder oversight.
- Senior Superintendents of Police in both districts were directed to ensure strict enforcement, and residents were asked to cooperate to maintain law and order in the border region near the Line of Control.
- The directives cover individuals, institutions, cyber cafes, and internet providers, with violations punishable under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, according to the Poonch order.