The rise in the use of license-free walkie-talkies in India has emerged as a major security concern for the Indian government. Manufactured primarily by Chinese companies, these devices have found favor among insurgent groups, Maoists, and anti-military forces operating not only in remote areas of India and Myanmar but also in metropolitan cities. Their increasing presence has exposed a nationwide vulnerability, one that threatens both local communities and national security.
As we look closer to the Threat
License-free walkie-talkies are particularly appealing to insurgent groups because they are affordable, easy to acquire, and highly modifiable. These devices are priced between Rs 1,800 and Rs 16,000, making them far more accessible than military-grade radios. Their rugged construction ensures that they can withstand harsh environments, from the forests of Chhattisgarh to the rugged border areas in the northeast.What makes them even more dangerous is their modifiability. By tampering with the permissible limit, which is currently capped at 0.5 watts, users can extend the range up to 5 watts or beyond, enabling communication over much larger distances. This illegal modification gives insurgent groups a strategic advantage, allowing them to coordinate attacks and evade detection by security forces. The simplicity of these devices means even individuals with minimal technical knowledge can quickly adapt and deploy them.
The Economic and Operational Impact on India
The increasing use of these walkie-talkies isn’t just a technical problem—it’s also a financial and operational one for the Indian government. The proliferation of illegal devices bypasses the regulatory frameworks designed to protect national security, leading to significant losses in licensing fees and other revenues. More crucially, the unauthorized use of these devices complicates the government’s ability to monitor insurgent communications and respond effectively to threats.
According to the Indian Wireless Telegraph Act of 1933, possession of any wireless transmitter without a license is punishable by a fine of Rs 1,000 and imprisonment of up to three years. However, the current penalties have done little to stem the tide. Efforts by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to counteract this threat, such as the 2018 notice requiring a type approval from the Wireless Planning & Coordination (WPC) wing for 446 MHz walkie-talkies, have not been enough. Tampering with charging watts remains illegal, but these modifications continue unabated, largely due to the easy availability of Chinese-made devices.
Incidents Illustrating the Risk
Recent incidents have underscored the gravity of this issue. On June 22, security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district uncovered a cache of fake currency, printers, and eight walkie-talkie sets during a raid, evidence of the critical role these devices play in the operations of insurgent groups. Similarly, in Manipur’s Kakching area, two walkie-talkie sets were recovered alongside 37 hand grenades from an arms dump. These examples show that these devices are no longer confined to border regions—they are now being used in the heart of India by various notorious groups, further complicating security operations.
The real-time communication enabled by these walkie-talkies has allowed insurgent groups to stay ahead of security forces, coordinating their movements and attacks with precision. The ability to modify these devices has only heightened their efficacy, posing a severe challenge to law enforcement and military personnel.
Speaking on this issue, Paresh Shetty, CEO of Arya Omnitalk and Syntel, emphasized the importance of collective action. “While we are requesting the government to ban the usage of the license-free walkie-talkie, we also urge other service providers to join hands in this initiative, where human loss and national security should be prioritized. India must take immediate, decisive action to address the growing threat of these walkie-talkies. National security is at stake, and failure to act could lead to further loss of lives and compromise the integrity of security operations across the country.’’
