Starlink Device Recovered Alongside Arms In Strife-Torn Manipur

In the second such incident in less than a month, Indian troops recovered Elon Musk-owned Starlink’s satellite internet device during a search operation in strife-torn Manipur. 

In a joint operation, the Indian Army and Assam Rifles also recovered snipers, automatic weapons, rifles, mortars, grenades and “war like stores”, along with the satellite communication device. 

“Acting on specific intelligence, troops… carried out joint search operations in the hill and valley regions in the districts of Churachandpur, Chandel, Imphal East and Kagpokpi in Manipur… and recovered 29 weapons comprising of snipers, automatic weapons, rifles, pistols, country made mortars, single barrel rifles, grenades, ammunition and war like stores,” the Army’s SpearCorps said in a post on X. 

In pictures uploaded along with the post, a Starlink device, with a receiver and a router, could be seen. 

Meanwhile, sources told The Print that the recovery was made on December 13 and the device is currently in the custody of Manipur Police. While there appears to be no clarity on the model of the device, the sources reportedly said that security agencies are looking to determine how the Starlink device made its way to Manipur.

The sources said that the device could have been smuggled into India from Myanmar. They further hinted that such devices help militant groups and criminal outfits circumvent conventional internet restrictions. 

Unlike legacy telecom operators which use telecom towers for services, Starlink relies on a constellation of satellites and can be used anywhere in the world. In addition, telcos have to promptly abide by government directions to clamp down on internet services while satcom operators continue to operate in the gray area as they are yet to be granted licences. 

This is the second instance of the Musk-owned satcom company’s brush with the Indian authorities in less than a month. Earlier this month, police officials in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands sent a legal notice to Starlink after one of its devices was allegedly used by peddlers to smuggle drugs worth $4.25 Bn into Indian waters. 

The developments come at a time when Starlink is seeking a licence to offer satcom services in the country but is yet to receive a security clearance from the government. 

Starlink is also embroiled in a fracas with telcos over the process of allocation and pricing of satcom spectrum. While Starlink, Amazon Kuiper and other global giants are batting for administrative allocation, telcos such as Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio are seeking an auction of the spectrum.