The Centre has blocked 14 mobile applications which, according to central intelligence agencies, were being used by terrorists and their supporters in Jammu and Kashmir.
A source said that on the recommendation of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the concerned department has blocked Wickrme, Mediafire, Briar, BChat, Nandbox, Conion, IMO, Element, Second line, Zangi, Threema, Crypviser, Enigma and Safeswiss. “Initially, 15 mobile applications, including a leading messenger mobile application, were identified, but action was later taken against 14 apps,” a source said, adding that these apps have been blocked under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
According to a central intelligence officer, they recommended action after finding that these apps were being used by terrorists and their supporters to communicate with on-ground workers (OGW) in J&K. “Even these apps do not have any representatives in India and cannot be contacted for seeking the information as mandated by Indian laws,” a source said.
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“Intelligence agencies also informed the MHA that most of these apps are designed to provide anonymity to these users and their features make it tough to resolve the entities associated with these apps. These mobile apps aid terrorists and their affiliates to engage in activities which are prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India and can disturb peace and harmony,” another source said.
The Union Home Minister has alerted the states of the country in the wake of the Indo-Pak War. The Telangana government and police, which were immediately alerted, took preemptive measures. Security has been tightened in Hyderabad.
Thirty-two airports across northern and western parts of the country, including Srinagar and Amritsar, have been closed for civilian flight operations till May 15, according to the civil aviation regulator.
In view of the ongoing high alert across India and intensified security arrangements in Hyderabad and Secunderabad, the city police have issued a ban on bursting firecrackers or fireworks in public spaces, particularly near military cantonment areas.
India responded strongly to Pakistan’s repeated drone and missile attacks and hit at least eight military targets inside Pakistan on Friday night with precision, thereby causing significant damage, the Centre told the media, as part of a special briefing on ‘Operation Sindoor’.
The Union Home Minister has alerted the states of the country in the wake of the Indo-Pak War. The Telangana government and police, which were immediately alerted, took preemptive measures. Security has been tightened in Hyderabad.
Thirty-two airports across northern and western parts of the country, including Srinagar and Amritsar, have been closed for civilian flight operations till May 15, according to the civil aviation regulator.
In view of the ongoing high alert across India and intensified security arrangements in Hyderabad and Secunderabad, the city police have issued a ban on bursting firecrackers or fireworks in public spaces, particularly near military cantonment areas.
India responded strongly to Pakistan’s repeated drone and missile attacks and hit at least eight military targets inside Pakistan on Friday night with precision, thereby causing significant damage, the Centre told the media, as part of a special briefing on ‘Operation Sindoor’.