The Srinagar district administration has suspended all Virtual Private Network (VPN) services within its jurisdiction for a period of two months, citing security and public order concerns, local media reported.
According to the reports, the order was issued by the District Magistrate (DM), Srinagar, under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) as part of what officials described as a broader preventive drive by the Jammu and Kashmir administration.
The decision followed a report submitted by the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Srinagar, which flagged apprehensions over the alleged misuse of VPN services by “vested interests”. The report warned that such misuse could pose risks to public order, cyber security and overall law and order in the district.
The administration noted that VPNs allow users to encrypt data, conceal IP addresses and bypass monitoring mechanisms. While such tools are widely used for privacy and data protection, officials said they also carry the potential for misuse for unlawful or anti-national activities.
Citing the need for immediate preventive action in the larger public interest, the DM ordered the suspension of all VPN services with immediate effect. However, the order clarified that authorised VPN usage by government departments, particularly those operating through the National Informatics Centre (NIC), will remain exempt.
The move comes amid an intensified crackdown on VPN usage across Kashmir. Local media reports said similar orders have recently been issued in districts including Budgam, Baramulla, Sopore, Shopian and Kulgam.
