New anti-terror ammo: Chilli grenades, energy bars

The Defence Research and Development Organisation has developed a new kind of hand grenade for the military and police commandos to force out terrorists holed up in buildings and nab them live.

The grenade will help them to smoke out terrorists from their hiding without any bloodshed and save hostages. The 'chilli smoke grenade' will irritate eyes, skin and respiratory traits, inflicting an immediate breathing difficulty and swelling of eyes to force the persons to come out in the open.

The device that uses 'Oleoresin Capsicum' was developed for use by the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir and the North East for encounter with the terrorists who hole up in buildings during encounters with security forces, according to DRDO chief controller W Selvamurthy.

Though developed for the specific requirement of the army, the device will be made available to central paramilitary forces as also the National

Security Guards and the police in combating terrorists and Naxalites.

It is claimed to be much more effective and safe than lobbing teargas shells, which may result in casualties.

Selvamurthy disclosed that DRDO has also developed a 'concealed weapon detection device' that enables the forces to detect not only hidden weapons on a person or in his/her bag but also objects hidden on the other side of a wall.

Yet another help in fighting the terrorists has come from the 'energy bars' developed by DRDO that can ensure the commandos, who have no time to eat or drink, stay alert and energised during operations like the one in Mumbai on November 26.

The DRDO is also currently engaged in fine-tuning a device that will help intercept and jam communications devices in terrorists' possession like mobile or satellite phones.