Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir – Following similar actions in Rajouri and Poonch, the Kathua district administration has also suspended VPN (Virtual Private Network) services for two months, citing national security concerns. The order, issued by District Magistrate Rajesh Sharma, took effect on December 24 and will remain in place for two months. This decision extends the area in Jammu and Kashmir where VPNs are prohibited, raising concerns about digital freedom in the region.
The official order states that certain individuals and groups have been misusing VPNs to bypass cyber restrictions and gain access to banned applications, websites, and digital content. Authorities believe that these activities pose a significant threat to public tranquility, cyber security, and national security. The administration also highlighted the potential exploitation of VPNs for coordinating activities detrimental to law and order.
The ban applies to all individuals, institutions, cyber cafés, and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) operating within the territorial limits of the Kathua district. Exemptions will only be granted through a specific government order. The Senior Superintendent of Police, Kathua, has been directed to ensure strict implementation of the order, and any violation will attract legal action under the relevant provisions of the law.
VPNs encrypt data, mask IP addresses, and bypass website blocks and firewalls, which can be exploited for anti-national purposes, including spreading inflammatory content and coordinating activities prejudicial to public order, posing cyber-security threats. The police had reported an increase in suspicious VPN usage.
Earlier in December 2025, similar bans were imposed in the Rajouri and Poonch districts, also citing security concerns. These districts, near the Line of Control (LoC), have seen increased vigilance. Authorities in Rajouri and Poonch stated that the suspension was ordered under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
The recent actions echo a similar ban in Doda earlier in the year, indicating a tightening of cyber oversight in the region. However, digital rights organizations have criticized these measures, describing them as a form of digital repression that could severely affect journalists, students, activists, and ordinary residents who rely on VPNs to access global news platforms, educational resources, and communication tools. Some experts are raising concerns about how the ban can impact people's rights, like free speech, free access to information, and privacy.
