Overview
- Shopian, Kulgam, Budgam and Srinagar issued fresh prohibitory orders in the past day, expanding a pattern of short‑term, district‑level VPN restrictions across Jammu and Kashmir.
- Budgam suspended various VPN services on mobile phones for two months, citing police inputs about unusual spikes in usage and risks to public order.
- Kupwara ordered a two‑month, district‑wide suspension on December 29 after police flagged a surge among suspicious users, with District Magistrate Shrikant Balasaheb Suse directing strict enforcement.
- Orders apply to individuals, institutions, cyber cafes and ISPs, with violations subject to legal action, and only explicitly permitted VPN use allowed by specific government authorization.
- Police report stepped‑up monitoring and have booked more than 10 people over the last month for alleged violations, including two named cases in Doda, as earlier bans also covered districts such as Kishtwar and Kathua.