Ignoring the Indian government’s ban, Elon Musk’s Starlink to be used in Manipur

Last Updated on January 7, 2025 6:22 am

The state and central governments have repeatedly shut down the internet, sometimes for months at a time, due to the ongoing conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur, failing to bring the security situation under control. However, it is known that Starlink services are being used for internet in various parts of Manipur during this period.

The British media outlet The Guardian reported this information in a report citing multiple sources.

An anonymous person said that he saw a Starlink device being used. It was brought from the United States during a wedding ceremony.

There is no confirmed information about how many armed groups in Manipur are using this technology. Two Kuki factions and one Meitei faction have claimed that they have not used Starlink to access the internet.

Starlink has been used on Indian soil before. In December, the Indian Coast Guard said it had recovered a Starlink device from a boat off the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which was linked to the smuggling of around £3 billion worth of methamphetamine.

Police said the device was being used in Indian waters for navigation and internet access and they had contacted Starlink to help with the investigation.

Officials from two security agencies in the state said that the general public and armed groups in Manipur were using Starlink devices to access the internet illegally. A senior Manipur police officer said that Starlink operates in some areas, especially near the Myanmar border. Security officials believe that the recently recovered Starlink device was smuggled from Myanmar. However, Starlink has not commented on the matter.

It is worth noting that almost daily clashes have been taking place in the state since May 2023, resulting in the death of more than 250 people. Armed groups have formed on both sides, resulting in the state being ethnically divided.