World's Hottest Chili Pepper A Non-Lethal Weapon

In a spectacular piece of ingenuity, the Indian military is using bhut jolokia, the world’s hottest chili, to make tear gas-like hand grenades to immobilize suspects.

The chili also known as ghost chili has more than 1,000,000 Scoville units, the scientific measurement of a chilli’s spiciness. Classic Tabasco sauce ranges from 2,500 to 5,000 Scoville units, while jalapeno peppers measure anywhere from 2,500 to 8,000.

“The chilli grenade has been found fit for use after trials in Indian defence laboratories, a fact confirmed by scientists at the Defense Research and Development Organisation,” Col. R. Kalia, a defence spokesman in Assam, told The Associated Press.

“This is definitely going to be an effective non-toxic weapon because its pungent smell can choke terrorists and force them out of their hide-outs,” R.B. Srivastava, the director of the Life Sciences Department at the New Delhi headquarters of the DRDO said. via The Hindu

The bhut jolokia is also being developed as an aesosol spray against attackers, primarily for women.

Bravo, India! John and Yoko would approve. Anne