SpaceX founder Elon Musk has said that Starlink satellite beams were turned off over India. His post came as a reaction to claims that the Starlink device was being used in violence-hit Manipur.
The security forces recently seized some internet devices along with arms and ammunition during a raid in Keirao Khunou in Imphal East district. The Spear Corps of the Indian Army had shared photos of the items seized on X, and social media users were quick to note that one of the devices had a "Starlink logo" on it.
On December 16, the security forces wrote, “Acting on specific intelligence, troops of Indian Army and Assam Rifles formations under Spear Corps carried out joint search operations in the hill and valley regions in the districts of Churachandpur, Chandel, Imphal East and Kagpokpi in Manipur, in close coordination with Manipur Police and other security forces and recovered 29 weapons comprising snipers, automatic weapons, rifles, pistols, country-made mortars, single-barrel rifles, grenades, ammunition and war-like stores.”
Commenting on the post, one user pointed out and said, “@Starlink is being used by terrorists. Hope, Elon @elonmusk looks into it and helps control misuse of this technology.”
Responding to this, Musk said, “This is false. Starlink satellite beams are turned off over India.”
Starlink, which provides satellite internet services, does not have a licence to operate in India. Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by Starlink Services, an international telecommunications provider that is a wholly owned subsidiary of American aerospace company SpaceX, providing coverage to over 100 countries and territories. SpaceX was founded by Elong Musk.
Among the items seized from Keirao Khunou, according to Manipur Police, were “one internet satellite antenna, one internet satellite router and 20 meters of FTP cables.” The recovery of the Starlink-like device has prompted agencies to investigate how the equipment found its way to the strife-torn Manipur.
(By arrangement with livemint.com)
