Scientists close to making 'Chilly grenade' to take on trouble-makers

The Defence Research Laboratory (DRL) at Tezpur in Assam has established after extensive research that the world's hottest chilly 'Bhoot Jolokiya', also called Naga chilly, can indeed be turned into a grenade without being lethal.

Not only that, the extracts of the chilly, exported to the US where it is a favourite among foodies, can also be used as powder to drive away animals, according to scientists in the Defence Research Laboratory.

DRL scientists are working on making the grenade with the hot properties of Bhoot Jolokiya which can be used by the police and the military to disperse unruly mob or for sundry other purposes.

The biggest advantage of the chilly grenade would be its non-lethal nature, said DRL scientist R P Srivastava.

The DRDO and World Wildlife Fund are also working on developing a powder from the chilly that could be coated on fences and ropes to scare away wild elephants who create havoc in many parts of the Northeast.

The Guinness Book of World Records has declared the Bhoot Jolokiya as the hottest chilly in 2007.