At the recent farmers’ protest at the Delhi and Haryana border, authorities were reported using unconventional methods for crowd control. This sparked a heated debate over the deployment of tear gas drones to disperse crowd. Reports have emerged of security forces employing rubber bullets, water cannons, and tear gas drones to disperse the protesters at the Shambhu Border as the “Delhi Chalo” protest, led by thousands of farmers from Haryana and Punjab, has intensified calls for a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for agricultural produce.
The clash resulted in injuries on both sides, with at least 24 policemen reported injured and claims from farmer leaders that over 60 protesters were hurt.
Speaking on the matter, Prof (Dr) Nishakant Ojha, Advisor for Cyber & Aerospace Security and Counter-Terrorism (West Asia and Middle East), on the matter told Financial Express Online, “The use of drones for such purposes is not unlawful under the current regulations (Drone Rule 2021). However, the discrepancy between the intended use of drones, originally designed for surveying infrastructure, monitoring crops, and border security surveillance, their deployment to dispel tear gas bombs is not what they were meant for”.
He added, “Rather a fume chamber of the gas could have been attached with in the drones”.
The debate over the use of drones in crowd control raises important considerations about the balance between preserving public order and protecting citizens’ rights to peaceful protest. Critics argue that deploying tear gas via drones has the potential to escalate tensions and compromise citizen (protestors)’ safety because they can come into contact with extreme chemicals, raising concerns about the ethical implications and potential misuse of drone technology in such situations.
Dr. Ojha emphasized the necessity for approval when deviating from the drones’ designated purposes, as each drone is registered under the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for specific functions.
Drone expert Milind Kulshreshtha added to the discussion by emphasizing the importance of adhering to well-documented legal procedures. He told Financial Express online, “The use of drones in protests like farmer protests for offensive action like tear gas launch is expected to be a well-practiced and documented legal procedure.” I hope that the same procedure was performed here, with DGCA permission. I would often support tethered drones for such operations to avoid causing harm to our own citizens.”
According to some media sources, this was the first-time bomb shells were used during the protest in India. Haryana Police sources informed The Indian Express that these drones were deployed because they have a larger range for shooting tear gas rounds than the guns typically utilized for the task.