Jammu: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, two civilians have been booked in Doda district for allegedly using Virtual Private Network (VPN) applications to access social media, amid the Modi government's intensifying digital crackdown.

Police registered separate cases under prohibitory orders issued by the District Magistrate banning VPN use. In the first case, Khalid Abrar, son of Mohammad Abdullah Butt from Bagla Bharth, was detained by a police team at Bagla Main Market for allegedly using a VPN on his mobile phone. Police claimed he failed to provide a 'satisfactory explanation,' leading to a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

In a separate incident, Mohammad Irfan, a resident of Tendla in Tehsil Chilli, was booked near Shali Pul in Gandoh for VPN usage. A case was registered against him at Police Station Gandoh under the same law.

Rights observers say the criminalisation of VPN use highlights the Modi government's efforts to curb digital freedoms in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, where access to information and social media has long been restricted. They describe the ban as collective punishment aimed at silencing dissent.

Observers also note that despite arbitrary arrests, fabricated cases, and intimidation, the repression has failed to weaken the resolve of Kashmiris or silence their demand for self-determination, emphasizing the need for international attention and intervention against ongoing human rights violations.