Rajouri/Poonch, May 7: Police Tuesday booked two persons in Rajouri and Poonch, in separate cases, for using Virtual Private Network (VPN) apps on their mobile phones, in violation of orders issued by Districts Magistrates of twin border districts.
In Rajouri, police initiated legal proceedings against another man for using banned VPN on his mobile phone. SSP Rajouri Amritpal Singh informed that this was the third such instance of police action as two similar cases were already registered in the district during the last two days.
“A team of police headed by Station House Officer (SHO) Dharamsal, Vikas Kumar was on routine patrolling when it intercepted some people for routine frisking. During investigation, it was found that a local man identified as Mohd Dishan, son of Mohd Aayub, resident of Brehvi Kalakote had downloaded and installed three VPN software in his phone, thus violating DM order,” said police.
“Cognizance into the matter has been taken in Dharamsal police station of Rajouri,” police said.
In Poonch district also, police booked a person in Mendhar for using Virtual Private Networking app on his mobile phone, in violation of the District Magistrate’s order.
An official said, “The accused has been identified as Mohd Naseem, son of Abdul Majeed, resident of village Ari Mendhar. He has been booked in case FIR no 64/ 24 U/S 188 IPC at police station Mendhar.”
“The individual was intercepted by a naka party of Police Post Ari led by in-charge PSI Sushil Kumar under the supervision of SHO Mendhar Deepak Katoch near Ari Bridge. Upon checking, it was found that he had installed ‘X-VPN’ application on his mobile phone,” the official said.
District Magistrate Poonch vide order no DMP/JC/368/76 dated April 24, 2024, had suspended the usage of all kinds of VPNs till the culmination of Lok Sabha elections in the entire district.