>Lord Belbury at 07:48, 18 July 2021

2021-07-18T07:48:49Z

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{{Short description|Non/less-lethal weapon used for incapacitation and crowd control purposes}}A '''chili grenade''' is a type of [[non-lethal weapon]] developed by Indian military scientists at the [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]] for use by the [[Indian Armed Forces]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100323/ap_on_re_as/as_india_chili_grenades |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324222353/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100323/ap_on_re_as/as_india_chili_grenades |archive-date=2010-03-24 |title=Indian military to weaponize world's hottest chili - Yahoo! News |publisher=Web.archive.org |date=2010-03-23 |accessdate=2011-11-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ht-exclusive-army-backs-pepper-over-pellets-in-kashmir/story-Vvc2Y3zkcuISfxxKk7pWrJ.html|title=Army backs pepper shots, chilli grenades over pellet guns in Kashmir|last=Singh|first=Rahul|date=15 August 2016|website=Hindustan Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630052855/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ht-exclusive-army-backs-pepper-over-pellets-in-kashmir/story-Vvc2Y3zkcuISfxxKk7pWrJ.html|archive-date=30 June 2018|access-date=2018-12-31}}</ref> The weapon is similar to [[tear gas]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.discovery.com/tech/hottest-chili-weapon.html|title=India's Military Weaponizes World's Hottest Chili|last=Hussain|first=Wasbir|date=23 March 2010|website=Discovery News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325200432/http://news.discovery.com/tech/hottest-chili-weapon.html|archive-date=25 March 2010}}</ref> In 2016, civilian variants were being used for [[crowd control in Jammu and Kashmir]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/Chilli-filled-grenades-to-replace-pellet-guns-in-JampK/article14621960.ece|title=Chilli-filled grenades to replace pellet guns in J&K|date=4 September 2016|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-12-31|others=Special Correspondent|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

The grenades use one of the world's spiciest [[chili pepper]], [[bhut jolokia]], species in weaponised form. The weapon emits a powerful skin and eye irritant as well as pungent smell that causes enemies to leave their cover or become physically incapacitated by the grenade's load. The pepper being used is the thumb-sized [[bhut jolokia]] (or ghost chili) which had previously been recognised by ''[[Guinness World Records]]'' as the hottest pepper in the world, but was later superseded by two other pepper cultivars, the [[Carolina Reaper]] and the [[Trinidad moruga scorpion]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8119591.stm|title=India plans hot chilli grenades|date=25 June 2009|work=BBC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117153050/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8119591.stm|archive-date=17 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/hottest-chili|title=Hottest chilli pepper|website=Guinness World Records|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-12-31}}</ref> One bhut jolokia is more than 1,000,000 [[Scoville scale|Scoville units]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8584988.stm|title=India scientists hail 'multi-purpose' chillis|last=Bhaumik|first=Subir|date=24 March 2010|work=BBC|access-date=2018-12-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107143213/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8584988.stm|archive-date=7 November 2016}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Riot control]]
* [[Pepper spray]]
* [[Hottest chili pepper]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Non-lethal weapons]]
[[Category:Grenades]]

{{law-enforcement-stub}}

Chili grenade - Revision history

>Lord Belbury at 07:48, 18 July 2021