Punjab farmers use kites to checkmate Haryana Police's drones

Tribune News Serivce

Patiala/ New Delhi, February 14

In an ingenious plan, protesting farmers at the Shambhu barrier flew hundreds of kites to prevent the Haryana Police from using drones to drop tear gas shells.

Farmers could be seen trying to tangle rotors of drones in the kite strings. Sensing threat to the UAVs, the Haryana Police withdrew these to their territory.

Bhupinder Singh, a farmer, said, “Youngsters brought kites to celebrate Basant at the protest site. As the wind was blowing southwards, our kites crossed the Shambhu barrier. Suddenly, we thought why not counter drones with kite strings. The move proved successful.”

The protesting farmers used wet gunny bags to lessen the impact of tear gas and makeshift fans to direct the smoke of shells towards the Haryana Police

As tension escalates, clash between tradition and modern technology continues, thus highlighting the innovative ways in which law enforcement agencies and protesters engage with each other.

Patiala DC Showkat Ahmed Parray wrote to his Ambala counterpart asking him not to use drones for dropping shells on the agitating farmers inside Punjab’s territory.