Starlink Defies Indian Restrictions in Manipur
- Update Time : 10:27:54 am, Saturday, 4 January 2025
- / 626 Time View
Due to ongoing clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur, both the state and central governments have repeatedly shut down the internet to control the security situation, sometimes for months. During these periods, it has been reported that various areas in Manipur have been using Starlink services. According to British media outlet The Guardian, an anonymous source mentioned seeing a Starlink device, which was brought in from the United States for a wedding. While the use of Starlink by armed groups in Manipur is unclear, factions from both the Kuki and Meitei sides have denied using the service for internet access. Starlink has also been found in India before; in December, the Indian Coast Guard recovered a device from a boat near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands that was involved in a drug trafficking operation. Police noted that the device was used for navigation and internet access in Indian waters, and Starlink was contacted for investigation support. Authorities in Manipur have confirmed that both civilians and armed groups are using Starlink devices for illegal internet access, especially in areas near the Myanmar border, where the technology is operational. Security forces believe the recently recovered device was smuggled from Myanmar, but Starlink has not commented on the issue. Since May 2023, Manipur has experienced nearly daily violence, resulting in over 250 deaths and the formation of armed groups, leading to ethnic division in the state.
