Rajouri and Poonch Impose Two-Month VPN Suspension as Police File First Cases

District orders cite police alerts of unprecedented VPN activity that could mask locations near the LoC.

Overview

Rajouri police registered FIRs against Mohd Nasar and Mohd Mukhtar under Section 223 of the BNS for using VPN apps in violation of the ban.
District Magistrates Abhishek Sharma (Rajouri) and Ashok Kumar Sharma (Poonch) ordered immediate two-month suspensions under Section 163 of the BNSS.
The directives task the respective Senior Superintendents of Police with strict enforcement and cover individuals, institutions, cyber cafes and internet service providers.
Police reports describe unusually high VPN use to hide locations, bypass blocks and transmit encrypted traffic that could threaten public order near the Line of Control.
With both districts enforcing identical measures, the Pir Panjal region is under a coordinated VPN suspension into early 2026, following a similar Doda order and ongoing civil-liberties concerns.