J&K Police has identified 95 VPN users in South Kashmir’s Pulwama and initiated “preventive action” against them, according to a police spokesperson. File. | Photo credit: PTI
The J&K Police on Thursday (January 1, 2026) in the Kashmir Valley cracked down on more than 130 locals for having virtual private network (VPN) applications on their mobile phones. VPN use has been banned in all 10 districts of Kashmir for the past week.
J&K Police has identified 95 VPN users in South Kashmir’s Pulwama and initiated “preventive action” against them, according to a police spokesperson. “Pulwama Police has recovered unauthorized use of VPN from the District Magistrate. 95 persons have been identified and after technical investigation and background check, no adverse background related to terrorism was found and no FIR was registered,” the spokesperson said.
The police said that, as a precaution, “security proceedings have been initiated against 43 persons, mainly between the ages of 18 and 40, for violating the above orders.” “Genuine users were released after detailed device analysis with a stern warning to refrain from using VPNs in the future,” police said.
In Sopore’s Baramulla area, police said 23 individuals were found “using unauthorized VPN services in violation of bans”. “Security proceedings have been initiated against 15 such persons for disobeying orders,” the police said.
Police action was also taken against five individuals in Anantnag and six in Kulgam in south Kashmir, officials said.
In separate orders, a 10-county Valley District Judge banned the use of VPNs. The ban orders were issued under Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, following police inputs regarding “suspicious use”.
The regulation states that such use has the potential to be misused for illegal and anti-national activities, including inciting riots, disseminating seditious material and coordinating activities detrimental to the maintenance of public order.
“Furthermore, VPNs have been found to enable encrypted data transmission, mask IP addresses, bypass firewalls and website restrictions, and may expose sensitive information to potential cyber threats,” the orders said.
Several districts in the Pir Panchal Valley and the Chenab Valley in the Jammu region have also banned VPN services in the last year.
Meanwhile, security forces on Thursday traced an ammunition package in Poonch district, which was apparently dropped by a drone from the Second Line of Control (LoC).
Officials said the Army’s 06 Madras Regiment destroyed an improvised explosive device weighing around two kilograms.
Officials said the cargo also included 70 rounds of AK-47 and 1 kg of narcotics. Following a high alert, security forces in the region launched several search operations.
Published – 02 Jan 2026 02:45 IST
