After Rajouri, VPN suspension ordered in Poonch

JAMMU: The District Magistrate, Poonch has ordered an immediate suspension on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) under Section-163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in the district.

In an official order by the district administration, it was informed that the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Poonch, has informed that there has been a significant increase in the usage of VPNs by what it called suspicious internet users.

VPNs are designed to encrypt data and mask users from firewalls thereby concealing user activity apart from preventing surveillance on the internet. This, the order said, in the backdrop of upcoming elections makes the sensitive information vulnerable to cyber attacks.

Further, the order said, that the SSP has recommended the suspension / ban on VPNs until the election processes are completed.

The Poonch’s twin, Rajouri has also ordered a ban on the VPNs, citing similar concerns.

The hilly districts of Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Kathua, Reasi and Udhampur in the Jammu division have witnessed terrorist ambush attacks against security forces during the last two months.

After reports that a group of hardcore foreign terrorists, believed to be 40 to 50 in number, are responsible for these attacks, the army deployed over 4,000 trained soldiers drawn from the elite Para commandos and those trained in mountain warfare inside the densely forested areas of those districts.

Terrorists used the element of surprise to carry out ambush attacks and then disappear into the forests of these hilly areas. (GK)