'Satellite beams turned off over India': Elon Musk rejects claim Starlink being used in Manipur
Imphal (PTI): SpaceX founder Elon Musk said Starlink satellite beams were turned off over India, reacting to claims that its device was being used in restive 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.
Pointing to it, an X user posted, "@Starlink is being used by terrorists. Hope, Elon @elonmusk looks into it and help control misuse of this technology."
Musk replied, "This is false. Starlink satellite beams are turned off over India."
Among the items seized from Keirao Khunou were "one internet Satellite Antenna, one internet Satellite Router and 20 meters (approx.) of FTP cables", according to the state police.
The recovery of the Starlink-like device has also prompted agencies to investigate how the equipment found its way to the strife-torn state, officials had said.
Musk's Starlink, which provides satellite internet services, does not have a licence to operate in India.
More than 250 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups in Manipur since May last year.
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Nandi Hills cable car rides may begin by 2027 as land acquisition nears completion: Report
Bengaluru: Provided there are no delays, tourists will be able to enjoy cable car rides above Nandi Hills by mid-2027, as the land acquisition process atop the hills nears completion, reported the Times of India on Tuesday.
According to officials from the Karnataka Tourism Department, the process to acquire 3.5 acres of private land at the top of Nandi Hills — essential for building the upper terminal — is expected to be completed by November 2025. Land for the lower terminal has already been acquired.
Dynamicx Ropeway Private Limited, which is executing the project under a public-private partnership (PPP) model with the tourism department, has submitted its final project plans for approval to planning authorities in both Bengaluru Rural and Chikkaballapur districts.
"Various departments, including the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), should provide their clearances for the project before the final plans can be approved. It will involve a series of queries from the departments," TOI quoted a senior official from the tourism department as saying.
The required approvals are expected within the next couple of months, following which the civil work will begin. "We have allotted 1.5 years' time to the company for the completion of the work once it begins," the official added.
The idea of a ropeway at Nandi Hills has existed for several decades but faced multiple delays due to land acquisition issues and environmental clearances. However, the current developments mark a significant push toward implementation.
Once operational, the cable car system will feature 50 semi-closed cabins offering panoramic views as they travel between the two terminals. The lower terminal will include parking for over 200 cars, 110 two-wheelers, as well as buses and vans. It will also have a waiting area for up to 600 people.
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