Govt blocks 14 chatting apps used by terrorists to receive texts from Pak

In a major crackdown, the central government has blocked 14 messenger mobile applications, which were being used by terror groups in Jammu and Kashmir, to spread messages from Pakistan.

The banned apps include Safeswiss, Wickrme, Mediafire, Briar, BChat, Nandbox, Conion, IMO, Crypviser, Enigma, Element, Second line, Zangi, and Threema.

The government said that these apps were banned under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 because 'they were found to be spreading terror propaganda and inciting youths in Jammu and Kashmir.'

According to reports, the mobile applications were used by terrorists in Pakistan to send coded messages to overground workers and other operatives in the Kashmir valley.

These mobile applications were used by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir to communicate with their supporters and on-ground workers (OGW), news agency reported citing sources.

"Agencies keep an eye on channels used by OGWs and terrorists to communicate among themselves. While tracking down one of the communication, agencies found that the mobile application does not have representatives in India and it is difficult to track down activities happening on the app," an official told ANI.

The government came up with a list of apps that pose a threat to national security and do not follow Indian laws with the help of other intelligence agencies operating in the valley.

Later, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Ministry of Home Affairs, were informed of the request to ban these mobile applications.