SRINAGAR: The District Administration Budgam in central kashmir has ordered the suspension of all Virtual Private Network (VPN) services on mobile phones across the district for a period of two months, with immediate effect, unless withdrawn earlier.
The order has been issued by District Magistrate Budgam, Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat, under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, following inputs from the Senior Superintendent of Police, Budgam, regarding an unprecedented and suspicious surge in the use of VPN services in different parts of the district.
According to the administration, the increased use of VPNs could potentially be exploited for unlawful and anti-national activities, including the incitement of unrest, circulation of inflammatory content and coordination of activities prejudicial to the maintenance of public order. The order also noted that VPN services enable encrypted data transmission, conceal IP addresses, bypass firewalls and website restrictions, and may expose sensitive information to cyber security threats.
In view of the prevailing situation and the requirement to take immediate preventive measures to safeguard public security and sensitive data, the District Magistrate said the restriction was necessary in the interest of maintaining law and order.
The order directs the Senior Superintendent of Police, Budgam, to ensure strict enforcement of the suspension in letter and spirit.
The District Administration has appealed to the public to cooperate with the authorities in the interest of maintaining peace, public order and data security in the district.
