Pepper grenade

duajones · March 20, 2010

India has unveiled the latest hot new weapon -- a grenade made using the world's hottest chili, reported The Sun on Friday.

At more than a thousand times stronger than the average cooking spice the bhut jolokia chili is set to cause a potent explosion on more than just the taste buds.

Military experts in India have developed the new crowd control grenade packed with ground seeds from the chili -- which is officially recognized as the hottest on the planet by Guinness World Records.

When deployed the grenade showers the targets with a dust so spicy that in trials subjects were blinded for hours and left with breathing problems. Lead scientist R.B. Srivastava, from India's Defense Research and Development Organisation, said: "The chilli grenade is a non-toxic weapon and when used would force a terrorist to come out of his hideout.

"The effect is so pungent that it would literally choke them."

The hotness of the bhut jolokia, which is native to Assam, in north-east India, is measured in Scoville heat units and comes in at a massive 1,001,304 -- that is nearly twice as hot as Mexico's red savina that used to hold the record at 577,000.

The average jalapeno measures at about 10,000.

Researchers in India have also come up with some other ingenious uses for the chili.

The scientist said: "There are other applications as well, what we call women power. A specially made chili powder could act as a tool for women to keep away anti-socials and work in this regard is also on."

The department have come up with another plan to rub the chili powder on the fences around army barracks. And Mr Srivastava said: "The chili paste could also act as a major repellent against wild elephants.

Mojo · March 20, 2010

I'm not at all sure this would qualify as a non-lethal weapon. Pepper dust and/or aerosolized capsaicin can incapacitate a normal person to the point of hospitalization; a person with pre-existing breathing issues could be in mortal danger.

I watched a perfectly healthy young teenager spend three days in hospital after getting too close to some "ornamental" peppers with a weedeater --as it turns out, they were habaneros. Took them directly into his lungs, and down he went.

And Yours Truly: was making a batch of my famous-to-those-who-know-and-love-me Hellfire Flakes and made the mistake of taking a quick sniff right after I stopped the blender of dried peppers. Almost put me on the ground, it did, and I was young and strapping at the time.

dustdevil · March 20, 2010

There have been pepper grenades for many years. The bhut jolokia pepper takes it to a totally inhumane level.

March 20, 2010	#1
duajones Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Corpus Christi,Texas Z9 Posts: 1,996	Pepper grenade India has unveiled the latest hot new weapon -- a grenade made using the world's hottest chili, reported The Sun on Friday. At more than a thousand times stronger than the average cooking spice the bhut jolokia chili is set to cause a potent explosion on more than just the taste buds. Military experts in India have developed the new crowd control grenade packed with ground seeds from the chili -- which is officially recognized as the hottest on the planet by Guinness World Records. When deployed the grenade showers the targets with a dust so spicy that in trials subjects were blinded for hours and left with breathing problems. Lead scientist R.B. Srivastava, from India's Defense Research and Development Organisation, said: "The chilli grenade is a non-toxic weapon and when used would force a terrorist to come out of his hideout. "The effect is so pungent that it would literally choke them." The hotness of the bhut jolokia, which is native to Assam, in north-east India, is measured in Scoville heat units and comes in at a massive 1,001,304 -- that is nearly twice as hot as Mexico's red savina that used to hold the record at 577,000. The average jalapeno measures at about 10,000. Researchers in India have also come up with some other ingenious uses for the chili. The scientist said: "There are other applications as well, what we call women power. A specially made chili powder could act as a tool for women to keep away anti-socials and work in this regard is also on." The department have come up with another plan to rub the chili powder on the fences around army barracks. And Mr Srivastava said: "The chili paste could also act as a major repellent against wild elephants. __________________ Duane Jones

March 20, 2010	#2
Mojo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 317	I'm not at all sure this would qualify as a non-lethal weapon. Pepper dust and/or aerosolized capsaicin can incapacitate a normal person to the point of hospitalization; a person with pre-existing breathing issues could be in mortal danger. I watched a perfectly healthy young teenager spend three days in hospital after getting too close to some "ornamental" peppers with a weedeater --as it turns out, they were habaneros. Took them directly into his lungs, and down he went. And Yours Truly: was making a batch of my famous-to-those-who-know-and-love-me Hellfire Flakes and made the mistake of taking a quick sniff right after I stopped the blender of dried peppers. Almost put me on the ground, it did, and I was young and strapping at the time. __________________ There is no logical response to the question, "Why won't you let me plant more tomatoes?"

March 20, 2010	#3
dustdevil Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: WI, USA Zone4 Posts: 1,887	There have been pepper grenades for many years. The bhut jolokia pepper takes it to a totally inhumane level.