Elon Musk Satellite Internet Company Starlink being used in Manipur by Militants, Revealed in Media Report

Violence has not stopped in the north-eastern state of Manipur for the last few months. Recently, there was an allegation of using the device of Starlink, which provides satellite internet service, to avoid internet shutdown by militant groups in Manipur. However, Starlink had said this was wrong.

of a major British newspaper Report Quoting sources, it has been told that militant groups are using Starlink’s internet service in many areas of Manipur. It has been said in this report that along with the extremist groups, some people are also taking the internet help of this company of billionaire Elon Musk during the internet shutdown by the state government. A person from the People’s Liberation Army of Manipur, a Meitei group of Manipur, has confirmed that this militant group has used Starlink’s service during the internet shutdown. Sources in security agencies have also told this newspaper that they have received information about militant groups and individuals using Starlink internet.

Starlink had sought permission from the Central Government to provide satellite broadband service. However, the government has not taken any final decision in this regard. In this report, a person from Imphal, Manipur has been quoted as saying that he has seen someone using a Starlink device purchased from America. A source in the security agencies said, “Our initial information shows that Starlink service is functional in some areas of Manipur, especially near the Myanmar border.” There is a suspicion that the devices of this company have been smuggled from Myanmar.

In December last year, some media reports quoted the Indian Army as saying that weapons, a satellite dish and receiver with Starlink logo were seized during a search operation in Manipur. Two army officers with knowledge of this search operation, on the condition of anonymity, said that the device with the Starlik logo was being used by a militant organization. Responding to these reports, Musk had said that his company’s service is not active in the country.