Indian military to weaponize world's hottest chili

[ensho]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_india_chili_grenades;_ylt=Aq3T6uYjXYTcK5B41l98Q..s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNyNDU4aTBxBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwMzIzL2FzX2luZGlhX2NoaWxpX2dyZW5hZGVzBGNjb2RlA21vc3Rwb3B1bGFyBGNwb3MDOQRwb3MDNgRwdANob21lX2Nva2UEc2VjA3luX2hlYWRsaW5lX2xpc3QEc2xrA2


The Indian military has a new weapon against terrorism: the world's hottest chili.

After conducting tests, the military has decided to use the thumb-sized "bhut jolokia," or "ghost chili," to make tear gas-like hand grenades to immobilize suspects, defense officials said Tuesday.

The bhut jolokia was accepted by Guinness World Records in 2007 as the world's spiciest chili. It is grown and eaten in India's northeast for its taste, as a cure for stomach troubles and a way to fight the crippling summer heat.

It has more than 1,000,000 Scoville units, the scientific measurement of a chili'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 chili grenade has been found fit for use after trials in Indian defense laboratories, a fact confirmed by scientists at the Defense Research and Development Organization," Col. R. Kalia, a defense spokesman in the northeastern state of Assam, told The Associated Press.

"This is definitely going to be an effective nontoxic 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.

Srivastava, who led a defense research laboratory in Assam, said trials are also on to produce bhut jolokia-based aerosol sprays to be used by women against attackers and for the police to control and disperse mobs.
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wow!

[Kutjara]

1. Using a million Scoville chili to "cure" stomach troubles?

That sounds sort of like using a shotgun to cure a headache.

[Aaria]

4. Been doing a bit of reading about using habanero peppers to fight cancer....

it seems that when the Caspian is in your system fighting the good fight it's heat is spent doing that rather then scorching your innards. Google Kelley Eidem and Habanero peppers for more info.

[Kutjara]

8. Thanks, I will.

Fascinating. I wonder how the chili "knows" what it needs to do? I'll definitely read up.

[anarch]

2. those grenades sound delicious

mmmm, chili grenade....

[Flipper999]

3. Ouch!

I tried a hot sauce that rated at over a million Scoville units. One drop in my mouth and my whole head burned painfully for ten minutes. I would definitely hate to have a gas version of that saturating my skin and lungs! :o

[MercutioATC]

5. It's just pepper spray...which militaries have been using for decades.

[aikoaiko]

6. Tactical curry.

mmmmmmmmmmmm

[Blue-Jay]

7. A ghost chili will fuck you up.

I ate one years ago and almost wanted to go to the hospital.