With lessons from Israel, Indian troops use drones to suppress farmers who are protesting.
Learn how a state government in India adopted Israeli tactics, deploying tear gas drones against protesting farmers, leading to outrage and injuries. Discover the alarming implications and the farmers' determined fight for their rights.
In a revealing report by Middle East Eye, it has come to light that the decision of an Indian state government to employ drones for firing tear gas at protesting farmers stems from the chief minister's visit to Israel during the 2018 Great March of Return protests.
Documents, statements, and press materials reviewed by MEE indicate that the chief minister of Haryana, Manohar Lal Khattar, and his administration have endeavored over the past six years to emulate Israeli police and army strategies within Haryana state.
Recently, Indian forces drew condemnation by utilizing drones to dispense tear gas at farmers striving to march from Punjab and Haryana to New Delhi. These farmers, rekindling a movement that successfully led to the repeal of contentious agricultural laws in 2021, demand assured minimum prices for nearly two dozen crops to counter falling incomes. Additionally, they protest the government's backtrack on loan waivers.
Initially, police in Haryana employed various deterrents such as barbed wire, concrete barriers, and large police vehicles to dissuade farmers from marching to the capital. However, they later resorted to drones to identify protesters deemed as "agitators" among the crowds.
Tensions escalated dramatically on February 13 when dialogue between the farmers and the government collapsed, resulting in paramilitary forces using tear gas-firing drones against the protesters, causing numerous injuries, including three farmers who were permanently blinded by lead-based pellets.
The use of drones and tear gas by the Haryana police department was reportedly influenced by a visit made by the chief minister and senior police officials to Israel in 2018, where they interacted with Israeli intelligence, police, and Aerospace Industries executives.
As the situation unfolded in Haryana, the Delhi police visited the state to study the tactics employed by their counterparts. Meanwhile, the Delhi police made preparations for continued protests by ordering 30,000 tear gas canisters.
The use of tear gas drones against farmers underscores the alarming influence of Israeli tactics on Indian law enforcement strategies, raising concerns about human rights violations and the suppression of dissent. Despite the challenges, the farmers remain resolute in their fight for dignity and livelihood.
