<p>After introducing low-flying drones fitted with cameras to keep an eye on mobs, Delhi Police are now considering using “pepper ball technology” to subdue them.<br /><br /></p>.<p>A demonstration of pepper ball launchers and projectiles was organised by a private company for Delhi Police Commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi and other senior officers on Friday.<br /><br />The guns are loaded with pellets filled with pepper powder, and Bassi fired a few to see how effective they were. Three guns – TMT Tactical handgun, TMC-700 and TMC 4 carbine – were handled by Bassi.<br /><br />“If delivered on target by a high pressure system of the gun, the rounds will unleash a cloud of capsaicin II powder on the face of the aggressor.<br /><br /> It will cause stinging irritation in eyes, breathing difficulties and other extreme, but temporary discomfort,” said a senior police officer.<br /><br />TMT Tactical handgun has a target range of 60 feet and can fire eight rounds, while TMC-700 has the capacity to fire 160 rounds over 60 feet. <br /><br />The TMC-700 has the ability to fire many pepper balls at one go. Over 200 rounds can be fired from TMC 4 carbine over 60 feet.<br /><br />The company demonstrating the weapons claimed that pepper ball products have no long term negative effects, and have started replacing rubber bullets in most developed countries.<br /><br /> It was also claimed that the pellets do not penetrate the skin or pose ricochet hazards, even if used from close range.<br /><br />“The pepper balls burst on impact and fill the vicinity with the irritant powder. So, policemen don't have to hit the target to subdue the suspect.<br /><br /> Rather, by shooting at a hard surface in the suspect's vicinity, the suspect will be overwhelmed by a cloud of pepper powder,” the officer added.<br /><br />At present, police use baton charge or fire tear gas and water cannons to disperse unruly mobs.<br /><br />“Delhi Police is continuously seized of the law and order scenarios in the city and is committed to new, contemporary and non-lethal methods of riot control,” police said in a statement.<br /><br />“As empirical studies have shown, even the use of rubber bullets for riot control cause injuries in most cases and fatalities in a few, thereby coming under severe criticism by human rights organisations,” police said.<br /><br />Earlier, police had used drones fitted with cameras for surveillance and deployed them in riot-hit Trilokpuri in east Delhi.<br /><br />For Chhath Puja and Muharram, police had again sent out drones scouting for troublemakers, against the backdrop of communal tensions.</p>
<p>After introducing low-flying drones fitted with cameras to keep an eye on mobs, Delhi Police are now considering using “pepper ball technology” to subdue them.<br /><br /></p>.<p>A demonstration of pepper ball launchers and projectiles was organised by a private company for Delhi Police Commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi and other senior officers on Friday.<br /><br />The guns are loaded with pellets filled with pepper powder, and Bassi fired a few to see how effective they were. Three guns – TMT Tactical handgun, TMC-700 and TMC 4 carbine – were handled by Bassi.<br /><br />“If delivered on target by a high pressure system of the gun, the rounds will unleash a cloud of capsaicin II powder on the face of the aggressor.<br /><br /> It will cause stinging irritation in eyes, breathing difficulties and other extreme, but temporary discomfort,” said a senior police officer.<br /><br />TMT Tactical handgun has a target range of 60 feet and can fire eight rounds, while TMC-700 has the capacity to fire 160 rounds over 60 feet. <br /><br />The TMC-700 has the ability to fire many pepper balls at one go. Over 200 rounds can be fired from TMC 4 carbine over 60 feet.<br /><br />The company demonstrating the weapons claimed that pepper ball products have no long term negative effects, and have started replacing rubber bullets in most developed countries.<br /><br /> It was also claimed that the pellets do not penetrate the skin or pose ricochet hazards, even if used from close range.<br /><br />“The pepper balls burst on impact and fill the vicinity with the irritant powder. So, policemen don't have to hit the target to subdue the suspect.<br /><br /> Rather, by shooting at a hard surface in the suspect's vicinity, the suspect will be overwhelmed by a cloud of pepper powder,” the officer added.<br /><br />At present, police use baton charge or fire tear gas and water cannons to disperse unruly mobs.<br /><br />“Delhi Police is continuously seized of the law and order scenarios in the city and is committed to new, contemporary and non-lethal methods of riot control,” police said in a statement.<br /><br />“As empirical studies have shown, even the use of rubber bullets for riot control cause injuries in most cases and fatalities in a few, thereby coming under severe criticism by human rights organisations,” police said.<br /><br />Earlier, police had used drones fitted with cameras for surveillance and deployed them in riot-hit Trilokpuri in east Delhi.<br /><br />For Chhath Puja and Muharram, police had again sent out drones scouting for troublemakers, against the backdrop of communal tensions.</p>
