Manipur militants using Elon Musk's Starlink devices during internet shutdowns: Report

Militant groups have been using Elon Musk’s satellite-based Starlink devices, currently not licensed in India, during internet and mobile shutdowns in ethnic violence-hit Manipur, The Guardian reported, citing sources within armed groups and the police. The Guardian report, published on Friday, comes days after SpaceX founder Elon Musk clarified that Starlink satellite beams are disabled over India, responding to claims that its device was being used in the northeastern state. A leader from the Meitei separatist militant group, the People’s Liberation Army of Manipur, told the publication that they utilised Starlink devices to access the internet in Manipur during times when authorities had imposed internet blackouts amid violent clashes. Two military officers familiar with the search operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the device with the Starlink logo was being used by a militant group, news agency Reuters earlier reported.