Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 18 December 2024
In a significant development, a Starlink satellite internet device, manufactured by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has been recovered during a joint operation by the Indian Army and Assam Rifles in strife-torn Manipur. This marks the second instance within a month, of such advanced technology being seized from criminal elements in Indian territory.
The Spear Corps announced the recovery on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), revealing that troops, working closely with Manipur Police, conducted a series of search operations across Churachandpur, Chandel, Imphal East, and Kangpokpi districts. The operation, carried out on December 13, 2024, yielded a cache of weapons, including sniper rifles, pistols, and grenades. However, the most notable item in the image shared by Spear Cops was a Starlink device comprising an antenna and a router, raising serious questions about its presence in the region.
This discovery comes barely weeks after a Starlink Mini device was seized by the Andaman and Nicobar Police during the search of a Myanmarese vessel intercepted near Barren Island in the Andaman Sea. That vessel was carrying methamphetamine worth ₹36,000 crore ($4.26 billion), making the presence of such sophisticated technology even more alarming.
Though the two incidents are unrelated, they highlight a concerning trend: Starlink devices, known for their ability to deliver high-speed satellite internet in remote locations, are increasingly being found in the hands of criminals operating in Indian territory.
Starlink’s parent company, SpaceX, is yet to receive regulatory clearance to operate in India. Responding to allegations on social media, Elon Musk stated that “Starlink satellite beams are turned off over India.” Yet, the repeated seizure of these devices raises questions about how they are being accessed and used.
An ‘X’ user named Deepshika tagged Musk, claiming that Starlink devices are being used by terrorists and urging him to control misuse of technology. Musk’s denial of active satellite beams over India has added a layer of intrigue to the ongoing developments.
Following the November seizure in Andaman, the Andaman and Nicobar Police had announced plans to approach SpaceX for information about the device, including its purchase history, usage patterns, and activity logs. Recent reports suggest that the police have already contacted Starlink to aid their investigation. The findings from this inquiry could provide critical insights into how these devices are being acquired and if they are being used in Indian territory.
With the recent seizures in both Manipur and Andaman, these questions are growing more urgent. The use of such cutting-edge technology by anti-social elements underscores the need for enhanced border vigilance and stricter regulatory oversight.
As investigations unfold, the presence of a second Starlink device in just one month is a stark reminder of the complexities of tackling modern-day crime, where technology knows no borders.