28.5c India
A Starlink dish and router seized by security forces from rebels in Manipur have been judged inoperable and incompatible with the region. Forensic examinations indicated that the gadgets, tagged with the Starlink insignia, could not operate in the state bordering Myanmar. "The devices had definitive markings of Starlink, but they are incompatible in this region," a senior officer said.
The equipment was returned to the Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology for further investigation. Initial investigations indicate the devices were inoperable, but additional forensic reports are required.
The revelation has raised concerns about external factors contributing to the ongoing violence in Manipur. The seized Starlink device was inscribed with "RPF/PLA," which stands for the People's Liberation Army, a banned Meitei insurgent group.
Starlink, owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX, provides satellite-based internet worldwide. However, due to legal restrictions, its services are unavailable in India. Musk confirmed via X that Starlink's satellite beams have been turned off in India.
The discovery raises concerns about the potential misuse of advanced technology in a state plagued by ethnic conflict since May 2023, which has claimed over 250 lives and displaced others. Authorities are still examining how other entities contributed to the crisis's escalation.