800 More Kashmiris Face Fresh Crackdown as VPN Use Criminalised in IIOJK, Exposing India’s Digital Tyranny, Fear of Truth, and Open Authoritarianism

Digital Freedom Criminalised to Enforce Silence

Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir has been dragged into another dark and dangerous phase where even basic digital safety is treated as a criminal act. By declaring the use of Virtual Private Networks illegal, India has crossed yet another red line in its campaign to silence Kashmiris. This move is not about security or law and order but about fear, control, and domination. India is openly admitting that it cannot tolerate an informed and connected Kashmiri population.

♦ Freedom turned into a crime: India has made it clear that even protecting one’s online privacy is now unacceptable in occupied Kashmir because free access to information weakens its false claims.
♦ Fear-driven policy: The VPN ban exposes India’s deep fear of truth, debate, and independent thinking among Kashmiris.
♦ Occupation without consent: Such measures confirm that India governs Kashmir through force and intimidation, not democratic approval.

800 Kashmiris Identified as a Tool of Collective Fear

The identification of around 800 Kashmiris for using VPNs is not routine policing but a carefully planned intimidation tactic. This number is being highlighted to send a warning message to the entire population. India wants people to believe that every click, message, and search is being watched. This creates a climate of fear where silence becomes a survival strategy.

♦ Numbers used as threats: The figure of 800 people is deliberately publicised to frighten thousands of others into self-censorship.
♦ Youth targeted deliberately: Most of those questioned and harassed are young Kashmiris who use the internet for education, awareness, and connection with the outside world.
♦ Psychological warfare: Fear is being used as a governing tool to break confidence and resistance.

Blanket VPN Ban and a New Digital Lockdown

The two-month blanket ban on so-called “unauthorised” VPN services has effectively sealed Kashmir’s digital space. VPNs are used worldwide to protect privacy, yet in Kashmir they are labelled suspicious. India hides behind vague excuses like cyber security and public safety. In reality, this ban is about cutting off Kashmiris from independent information.

♦ Digital space sealed: The VPN ban adds another layer to Kashmir’s long history of communication blackouts and internet restrictions.
♦ Security excuse exposed: India repeatedly uses weak and unclear security arguments to justify repression.
♦ Truth treated as danger: Any tool that allows Kashmiris to bypass state-controlled information is seen as a threat.

Mass Surveillance and the Collapse of Privacy

Indian police have openly admitted to launching mass monitoring and verification drives across the Valley. Digital devices, internet connections, and personal data are being checked without transparency or consent. Such actions would cause outrage in any real democracy. In occupied Kashmir, they are presented as normal governance.

♦ Privacy destroyed completely: Kashmiris are treated as suspects by default, with no respect for personal space or digital rights.
♦ No legal safeguards: People are questioned, summoned, and pressured without clear charges or due process.
♦ Democracy exposed as hollow: These actions clearly expose the false image of India as a democratic state.

District-Level Crackdowns to Break Collective Strength

Districts such as Budgam, Shopian, and Sopore have been specifically targeted during this crackdown. These areas are known for political awareness and community resilience. By focusing pressure on these districts, India aims to weaken collective resistance. This strategy is not new but deeply colonial in nature.

♦ Selective repression: India targets politically conscious areas to suppress organised dissent.
♦ Community intimidation: Pressure on individuals is meant to frighten entire neighbourhoods into silence.
♦ Divide-and-rule policy: India seeks to isolate people from each other to weaken unity.

VPN Use Falsely Linked with Terrorism

Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of this crackdown is the deliberate linking of VPN use with terrorism. VPNs are legal tools used globally by journalists, students, and professionals. India knowingly spreads this false association to justify arrests and harassment. This tactic turns ordinary citizens into criminals overnight.

♦ False criminal labels: Kashmiris are branded as security threats for using common digital tools.
♦ Legal abuse normalised: Vague laws are twisted to criminalise harmless actions.
♦ Lives permanently damaged: Once accused, individuals face long-term legal and social consequences.

Digital Censorship as Official State Policy

This VPN ban clearly shows that digital censorship is now official Indian policy in occupied Kashmir. India wants full control over narratives, opinions, and access to information. Independent journalism and alternative viewpoints threaten India’s version of reality. Blocking them is easier than answering uncomfortable questions.

♦ Narrative monopoly: India wants only state-approved voices to exist in Kashmir.
♦ Truth suppressed deliberately: Facts that expose human rights abuses are blocked at the source.
♦ Global image management: Digital control helps India hide its actions from international scrutiny.

Crackdown Expanding Beyond the Valley

Reports that similar restrictions are being extended to parts of the Jammu region show that repression is spreading. This confirms that the VPN ban is not temporary. India is steadily expanding digital control across the entire occupied territory. The grip of occupation is tightening, not loosening.

♦ Repression spreading fast: What begins in the Valley soon reaches other regions.
♦ No rollback expected: Restrictions once imposed become permanent tools of control.
♦ Colonial thinking revealed: India prioritises control over basic rights.

Violation of International Law and Global Silence

India’s actions directly violate internationally recognised rights to privacy, freedom of expression, and access to information. Yet the global response remains weak and selective. Silence from the international community sends a dangerous message. It tells India that repression has no cost.

♦ International norms ignored: India openly violates human rights standards without consequence.
♦ Silence encourages abuse: Weak global reactions embolden further repression.
♦ Moral failure exposed: The world’s inaction deepens Kashmiri suffering.

Digital Tyranny Under Occupation

The criminalisation of VPN use in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir is not about law, security, or order. It is about fear, control, and silencing an occupied people. By targeting around 800 Kashmiris, India has once again exposed its true face as a digital authoritarian power. This policy will not bring peace or stability. Instead, it will further expose India’s repression and deepen the resolve of Kashmiris to resist occupation.