Chili grenade
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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.{{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 |date=2010-03-23 |accessdate=2011-11-04}}{{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}} The weapon is similar to tear gas.{{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}} In 2016, civilian variants were being used for crowd control in Jammu and Kashmir.{{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|issn=0971-751X}}
The smoke grenades use one of the world's spiciest chili pepper, bhut jolokia, species in weaponised form.{{cite news |date=21 December 2008 |title=Now, 'Chilli smoke' grenades to dig out terrorists |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/now-chilli-smoke-grenades-to-dig-out-terrorists/story-OWTJAfGGlesNgotabmWNzO.html |access-date=16 September 2024 |publisher=Hindustan Times |agency=Press Trust of India}} The weapon emits a powerful skin and eye irritant as well as pungent smell that causes the afflicted 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.{{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}}{{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}} One bhut jolokia is more than 1,000,000 Scoville units.{{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}}