Indian security forces have seized Starlink satellite internet devices allegedly used by the militant group People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in Keirao Khunao, Manipur. This marks the second instance in two months where Starlink devices were found being utilized by inimical elements.
Indian forces had been carrying out numerous search operations across Manipur.
In a series of successful joint operations, the Indian Army and Assam Rifles, in collaboration with Manipur Police and other security agencies, recovered 29 weapons, ammunition and warlike stores (WLS) from the hill and valley regions of Churachandpur, Chandel, Kangpokpi and Imphal East districts in Manipur.
During one such operation, the security forces learned about the presence of electronic devices that were being used by the Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF)/PLA for satellite internet connections in Keirao Khunao.
Security personnel recovered a satellite internet antenna, a satellite router and a 20-meter-long FTP cable. The seizure of Starlink devices brings to light the increasing use of advanced satellite technology by criminal and militant groups to bypass conventional internet restrictions.
Starlink Devices Found in Myanmar, Andaman & Nicobar
Such devices have already been reported in use inside war-torn Myanmar. Signals intelligence has revealed that compounds in Myanmar are leveraging Starlink satellite systems to facilitate transnational crimes, including defrauding victims globally.
Across Myanmar, rebel commanders, aid workers and cybercriminals are increasingly relying on satellite internet to maintain communication amid severe internet restrictions.
In November, smugglers used a Starlink device in the largest-ever seizure of methamphetamine in India, valued at $4.2 billion, in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Authorities have since issued a legal notice to Starlink, demanding details of the purchaser of the device used in the operation.
Starlink, along with Amazon Kuiper, is still awaiting approval from Indian authorities to officially launch its services in the country. Despite the ban, orbiting satellites continue to enable connectivity for illicit activities, including smuggling and cybercrime.
What is Starlink?
Owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Starlink is a satellite internet service that aims to offer high-speed internet in more than 100 countries and territories worldwide. Unlike cable-based broadband services, which are constrained by geographical, topographical and other factors, Starlink works in any place with a direct view of the sky, bringing internet connectivity to the most remote regions of the planet.
Unlike traditional satellite providers, which often struggle with speed and latency, Starlink uses a constellation of thousands of small satellites that can communicate with one another to deliver high-speed internet with low latency. This is achieved using decades-old satellite internet service technology. Instead of relying on cable, which most broadband services use, Starlink uses radio signals in space to send a broadcast to satellites in lower orbit to relay the data to users.
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