Indian Army, and Assam Rifles, in cooperation with police and other security forces, recovered massive stocks of weapons in a series of successful operations in the violence affected state of Manipur.
29 weapons including snipers, automatic weapons, rifles, pistols, country made mortars, single barrel rifles, grenades, ammunition and war like stores (WLS) were found in the districts of Churachandpur, Chandel, Kangpokpi, and Imphal East regions of the state. Spear Corps of the Indian Army was also informed about the crucial development on social media. Moreover, Starlink equipment was also discovered during the operation.
The seized arms comprised of an AK-47 rifle, a sniper rifle, a Burmese-made 0.22 pistol, five Burmese-made 9mm pistols, a Burmese-made 7.65mm pistol, a .303 bolt-action rifle, two .303 single-bolt sniper rifles, a 9mm Carbine Machine Gun (CMG), five factory-made 12mm single-barrel rifles, a .22 rifle, a 12mm shotgun, three locally made mortars, a single-barrel gun, a 5.56mm MA 4 assault rifle, an MA-1 (MK-I) assault rifle, an air gun, grenades, and a large cache of ammunition.
The seizure of weapons transpired when the security forces were searching for 56-year-old Meitei man Laishram Kamalbabu Singh, who has been missing since 25th November from Kangpokpi district. At least 2,000 members of the Army and Assam Rifles have stepped up their search for him. The Army used tracker dogs, drones, and other equipment as part of their search efforts, under the direction of senior officers.
A sniper rifle, a 0.22 pistol, two 9mm pistols, a 7.65mm pistol, a.303 bolt action rifle, grenades, ammunition, and warlike stores were found during a joint operation on 7th December by Assam Rifles and Manipur Police in response to specific intelligence regarding the presence of arms and ammunition in general area L. Jangnomphai in Kangpokpi district. One 9mm CMG, one .303 Single Bolt Sniper Rifle, one 9mm pistol, grenades, ammunition, and warlike supplies were recovered on 10th December in the same district during an intelligence-based operation in the general region of Tingkhai Khullen, 10.5 km southwest of Kotlen village.
An AK-47 rifle, a 9mm handgun, three locally manufactured mortars, a single-barrel cannon, ammo, and warlike supplies were found during a combined search operation conducted by the Manipur Police and Assam Rifles in the Chandel area on 11th December.
On 11th and 12th December, intelligence-based operations were initiated over two days in the general areas of Telsing and Laijang villages in Churachandpur district. A .303 rifle, a 9mm handgun, four factory-made 12mm single-barrel rifles, a .22 rifle, a 12mm shotgun, ammunition and warlike supplies were retrieved during the mission in Telsing village. Likewise, four cadres were apprehended during the operation in Laijang village, and one MA-1 (MK-I) assault rifle, an air gun, ammunition, and warlike supplies were located.
One 5.56mm MA 4 Assault Rifle, one single barrel rifle, two pistols, grenades, ammunition, and warlike supplies were found during a joint search operation conducted by the Indian Army and Assam Rifles in the Imphal East district on 13th December near the outskirts of the Irilbung Police Station (PS). The recovered items have been handed over to Manipur Police. A defence spokesperson also informed, “Army and other security forces in their operations during the past few days recovered the arms, ammunition, and warlike stores from Churachandpur, Chandel, Kangpokpi, and Imphal East districts.”
Relationship between Myanmar and separatist Kuki groups
Authorities in Manipur issued an urgent security alert following an intelligence report indicating that more than 900 Kuki militants entered the state from Myanmar in September of this year. According to the intelligence alert, these terrorists received training in the use of projectiles, rockets, drone-based bombs, and jungle warfare.
“They are reportedly grouped in units of 30 members each and currently scattered in the periphery and expected to launch multiple coordinated attacks on Meitei villages around 28th September 2024,” the report read.
Security Adviser to Manipur government Kuldiep Singh asserted, “Unless and until it is proved wrong, we believe that it is 100% correct.”
The information was met with severe criticism from Kuki groups. The Manipur Chief Minister’s Office and the Manipur Police DG (Director General) then claimed that there is now no need to be concerned about the alleged significant cross-border infiltration and that the likelihood of it occurring is “remote” after the Indian Army’s request for details to support the assertion.
Last year in July, an exchange of gunfire took place in the border town of Moreh between heavily armed terrorists including Kuki National Army (KNA) and People’s Defence Force (PDF) of Myanmar and security forces including Paramilitary forces, Assam Rifles and Border Security Force (BSF). Furthermore, other private residences, including one of a journalist’s, were set on fire, and widespread loot and arson also happened. At least thirty homes were reportedly destroyed by fire. The area had the homes of members of the Meitei community who had left the area due to earlier violence.
Security officials had began an investigation to find out if the assailants who used sniper rifles and other advanced weaponry to attack security officers in Moreh were terrorists from other countries. However, according to sources, some of them might be from neighbouring Myanmar. Notably, the town is located near the India-Myanmar border.
People who live on either side of the India-Myanmar border are permitted to travel 16 kilometers into each other’s territory without a visa under the Free Movement Regime (FMR). However, Indian Government decided to start bidding for a sophisticated smart fencing system for the entire India-Myanmar border in January 2024 in response to the enormous challenge created by cross-border terrorism.
“We are going to end the FMR along the Indo-Myanmar border soon. We are going to put fencing along the entire border. The fencing will be completed in the next four and a half years. Anyone coming through will have to get a visa. The idea is to not only to stop the misuse of the FMR, which is used by insurgent groups to carry out attacks on the Indian side and flee towards Myanmar, but also put a brake on the influx of illegal immigrants, drugs and gold smuggling,” the reports stated.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh had earlier asked the center to permanently close the FMR along the Indo-Myanmar border in September 2023 in an effort to curb “illegal immigration.” He added that the state was strengthening its border with Myanmar and creating a National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Notably, following the ethnic clash between the Kuki and Meitei populations in Manipur in May of last year, a number of illegal immigrants entered India. According to reports, armed terrorists from the Kuki National Army (KNA), People’s Defence Force (PDF) of Mynamar, and security forces entered India in July 2023, setting the stage for a significant conflict between the two communities in the border town of Moreh in the Tengnoupal district of Manipur.
When the Manipur police started looking into the matter, they discovered that a significant number of the attackers had come from Myanmar. Later, it was revealed that over 700 illegal immigrants had crossed into India from Myanmar, and they were ordered to be deported. Wasbir Hussain, a senior journalist disclosed, “718 fresh illegal migrants from Myanmar have come. The Manipur government has asked the Assam Rifles to deport them.”
Starlink device found in East Imphal
Meanwhile, during a combing operation in Keirao Khunou, Imphal East district, Manipur security authorities discovered a sophisticated communication gear connected to international satellite internet services. According to reports, the forces confiscated a Starlink router and antenna, which are part of Elon Musk’s SpaceX enterprise and offer uninterrupted global internet and communication services, in addition to a cache of weapons and ammunition, including grenades.
The security forces uncovered the existence of electronic devices being utilized by Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF)/People’s Liberation Army (PLA) for satellite internet connections in Keirao Khunao during one of several successful combined operations. A 20-meter FTP cable, a satellite router, and a satellite internet antenna came to light.
This is the second time in two months that hostile elements have been discovered using Starlink devices and the first time it has been found in the area, indicating that terrorist cells are using cutting-edge communication tools. Users can avoid typical internet shutdowns with Starlink, which is renowned for its ability to operate from remote terrains, guaranteeing continuous connectivity.
Political analysts have noted that the development indicated that the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur was being influenced by a multinational conspiracy. Security professionals are also advocating for more stringent regulations and increased monitoring of these technologies to stop their abuse in regions like Manipur that are prone to conflict.
According to a source, the existence of Starlink equipment in particular highlights the potential for outside assistance for armed groups, boosting their operational capabilities in the face of state-imposed limitations. Notably, Myanmar already uses these kinds of devices. Compounds in Myanmar employ the Starlink satellite systems to enable international crimes, such as scamming people worldwide, according to signals intelligence.
It should be noted that while billionaire Elon Musk’s satellite-based internet service, Starlink, is accessible in many nations across the world, including some in South and Southeast Asia like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka, it is not completely functional in India. Starlink is awaiting regulatory permissions and is now in the beta testing stage in the country. Pre-orders are available to users, but the service is not deployed yet.
Importantly, the remarkable discovery demonstrates the intricacy of the communication systems of the terrorists despite the state government’s internet ban, which was enforced during the long conflict and the grave challenge it presents to the peace and national security of the country. Since Starlink equipment is currently not widely available in India, reports of its presence in regions like Manipur indicate unlawful and unauthorized use of the technology.
Netizens react to use of Starlink by terrorist forces
Social media users quickly took notice of the significant discovery of weapons and ammunition, particularly Starlink, and voiced concerns about national security. A person termed the finding as just “tip of the iceberg” and added, “Where is it all coming from? Who’s behind the funding? And how many of these are swirling around out there? It’s hard to say.” The user then pointed out that the internet facility is not available in India and further asked, “So why can’t we intercept them before they reach us?”
Another person simply remarked that Elon Musk’s Starlink is being utilised by terrorists in India.
An individual urged the army to look into the issue and asked “how the valley insurgents could illegally possessed something which is not even launched in India?” The user than labelled it as a “clear evidence of foreign hand behind the terrorists.”
A netizen even hoped that Elon Musk would put an end to the “misuse of Starlink” as the technology is being employed by the terrorists.
Starlink device found on smugglers from Myanmar in Andaman Nicobar
A Myanmarese vessel was apprehended with what authorities described as the largest-ever drug haul in the region and roughly 5,500 kilogram of meth (methamphetamine) valued at over Rs 36,000 crore was confiscated. Last month, the Andaman and Nicobar Police recovered advanced satellite communication equipment and saved navigation coordinates from the vessel. Starlink equipment and GPS (Global Positioning System) waypoints for Rangat and Neil island were saved on the boat when it was intercepted by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Crime and Economic Offence Police Station (C&EO) in a joint operation.
Police located the primary suspect, Zay Yar Soe, in Tachileik, which is close to the borders of Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand, a place known as the “golden triangle of drugs,” according to Director General of Police Hargobinder S. Dhaliwal. Six Myanmarese crew members were also detained for questionning. However, the official added that the incident has raised serious concerns because it is the first time that Starlink’s technology has been used to navigate and enter Indian waters.
“This (case) is different because it is bypassing all the legal channels. They directly operated (phones) with satellite, creating a Wi-Fi hotspot,” he unveiled and further stated that he intended to ask Starlink for information on the device’s purchase history, including who obtained it, when, and how it was used. “They (smugglers) were using Starlink since their journey started from Myanmar,” he mentioned. The smugglers, according to him, relied on the Starlink Mini device, which is characterized as “a compact, portable kit that can easily fit in a backpack” on its website.
Notably, Elon Musk has been very keen to launch Starlink in India. However, the latest developments highlight the network’s threat in a nation like India where every hostile entity both inside and outside is eager to take advantage of the faultlines and create new divisions. The problem would only be exacerbated if unregulated access to the internet is supplied to the hands that want to exploit India’s vulnerabilities. The network is already being utilised by hostile and anti-India elements to inflict terror upon the nation.
