On the second day of the Farmers’ Protest 2.0, tensions flared at the Shambhu border between Punjab and Haryana as farmers faced resistance from Haryana Police, who deployed drones to disperse the crowd using tear gas.
For the past 36 hours, a convoy of protesting farmers has been halted at the border, met with continuous rounds of tear gas shells launched by police drones. The relentless shelling has hindered the farmers’ progress, prompting them to retaliate by attempting to bring down the drones.
Around noon on Wednesday, farmers initiated kite flying as a tactic to counter the drones at the Shambhu border. Armed with a large number of kites, farmers aimed to entangle the drones in the strings of the kites, thereby bringing them down and neutralizing the tear gas threat. The shelling from the drones continued unabated.
Haryana Police and other security personnel stationed at the Shambhu border have been relentlessly shelling tear gas from drones towards the assembled farmers on the Punjab side. On Tuesday, farmers also hurled stones at the drones, but due to the altitude, they were unable to hit their target effectively. The drones pose a significant challenge to the farmers as they shell from a height and can reach far into Punjab territory from the Shambhu border.
Earlier, on Monday, police conducted a mock drill of drone shelling at the Shambhu border. Additionally, a temporary jail has been set up at the sugar mill in Jind, Haryana, with district officials appointing a doctor and a pharmacist. Staff has been deployed to provide medical treatment to anyone injured during the protests. The sugar mill, located near Jhajj village on the Jind-Patiala-Delhi highway, serves as a key location amidst the ongoing protests.
The use of drones and tear gas by Haryana Police marks a significant escalation in the ongoing standoff between the authorities and protesting farmers, with tensions showing no signs of abating. As negotiations between farmers’ representatives and government officials continue, the situation at the Punjab-Haryana border remains tense and volatile.
A large group of farmers from Punjab is heading towards the border to enter Haryana to continue their struggle against conflicting agricultural policies. Considering the possible impact and security risks, authorities in Haryana decided to take action to protect farmers from their state.
During the crisis, Haryana police preferred to use drones equipped with tear gas to stop farmers. Drones released tear gas as they hovered over the crowd, causing chaos and confusion among protesters.
The deployment of tear gas prompted a rapid response from farmers who fought to protect themselves from the gas and withdrew from the single round. that area. During the crisis, some farmers were affected by tears and showed symptoms such as cough, tears and difficulty breathing.
The use of drones to disperse protests has been criticized from all sides, with many opposing the heavy-handed tactics of the police. Critics say the excessive use of tear gas against peaceful protesters violates their rights to assemble and protest.
The authorities now defend their actions by saying they were necessary to maintain law and order and protect the public. Security and infrastructure. They added that the deployment of drones was a necessary measure to ensure border security and prevent untoward incidents.
Despite the initial conflict, both sides worked hard to reduce tensions and make communication open between the two sides. against the police and farmers. Negotiations are continuing between the two parties to find a solution to the agricultural law issue.
Since the situation was critical and both sides maintained their positions, farmers decided to continue their protests and police forces decided to respect borders and control. This use of drones demonstrates the challenges faced by farmers and the government’s response to them.
