From earthmovers to kites: How farmers are countering security forces in ‘Delhi Chalo' march

As farmers march towards Delhi, with talks between union leaders and ministers reaching no conclusions, much has been discussed about the kind of gear that’s part of the protests. India Today’s Open-Source Intelligence team catalogued the heavy machinery and equipment being used by farmers and the police at the protest sites, drawing from media coverage and corroborating it with on-the-ground insights.

The “Delhi Chalo” march has so far seen some ingenious ways in which farmers resisted the police and its state-of-the-art weaponry — using kites to entangle police drones, mobilising earth-moving vehicles to dismantle barricades, using toothpaste to protect themselves from teargas.

BULLDOZING AHEAD

As per information from on-site sources, farmers are using excavators, Poclains, Tippers, Hydras, and tractors at the Khanauri and Shambhu borders. Ground reports also indicate that protesters intend to breach the Haryana police barricades using these earth-moving tools.

Vehicles including tractors and trucks used by the protesting farmers have reportedly reportedly modified to make them bulletproof, using heavy metal sheets on tyres.

Security forces on the Ambala side have blocked both highway bridges over the Ghaggar River, using concrete blocks and iron wires, and digging trenches over the riverbed to close all entrance routes. Reports indicate that police also have sound canons that are used for crowd control by emitting loud and painful levels of noise. This can potentially cause hearing loss.

Farmers have reportedly brought along with them trucks full of sandbags. This is for traversing non-motorable routes, should the police hinder movement on the main roads with barricades and concrete blocks.

UNCONVENTIONAL SOLUTIONS

Since the second day of their protest at the Shambhu border, farmers devised an innovative strategy to counter drones laden with tear gas bombs deployed by the Haryana Police: flying kites to entangle them and throwing tennis balls at them.

With teargas being continually used by the police, on-site accounts reveal that farmers have turned to “multani mitti” and toothpaste, known for their cooling effects, to counteract the effects of exposure. Further, they are also using wet jute bags to cover teargas shells and neutralise their impact.

Numerous farmers have also been seen using anti-riot gas masks, a precaution against respiratory threats commonly faced during riots and civil unrest.

Additionally, farmers have taken to wearing bulletproof vests as a measure to lessen the impact of rubber bullets fired by the Haryana police.

As per internal reports, nearly 14,000 farmers gathered at the Shambhu border on the Rajpura-Ambala road, with nearly 1,200 tractor-trolleys, over 300 cars, minibuses, and other vehicles. Similarly, the border at the Dhabi-Gujran barrier has over 4,500 farmers gathered with over 500 tractor-trolleys.