Shillong, May 1: 14 mobile applications that terrorists in Pakistan were using as platforms for communication to send information to Jammu and Kashmir have been shut by the central government.
Crypviser, Enigma, Safeswiss, Wickrme, Mediafire, Briar, BChat, Nandbox, Conion, IMO, Element, Second line, Zangi, and Threema are among the communication apps that are prohibited.
Sources said that terrorists in Pakistan used the applications to communicate with operatives and overground workers (OGW) in J&K using coded messaging.
Since the government has previously banned a number of Chinese apps, the government’s crackdown on mobile applications posing a security risk to the nation is nothing new.
Around 250 Chinese apps have been blocked by the Indian government in recent years due to their “prejudice to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the state, and public order.”
Over 200 Chinese apps have been blocked by the government since June 2020. These include well-known programmes like TikTok, Shareit, WeChat, Helo, Likee, UC News, Bigo Live, UC Browser, Xender, Camscanner, and popular mobile games like PUBG Mobile and Garena Free Fire.
