Delhi police to acquire pepper-ball launchers for better riot control

NEW DELHI: In a bid to improve its riot control capabilities, the Delhi Police is all set to acquire pepper-ball launchers, a non-lethal device used by police in the US, China and several European nations.

Pepper-ball launchers shoot projectiles which contain a powdered chemical that causes irritation in the eyes and nose similar to that triggered by pepper spray.

This week the city police floated its first tender for pepper-ball launchers, around a-year-and-a-half after the idea to induct the weapon was broached by former police chief B S Bassi, a senior police official said.

He said pepper-ball launchers are effective in breaking up large crowds or mobs way better than conventional methods like bursting tear gas shells or shooting rubber bullets.

The police are looking for five basic types of pepper-ball launchers which include Carbine SX and TX models, flash launchers, TAC 700 and TMP (tactical machine pistols).

A standard pepper-ball magazine can hold upto eight projectiles and the firing operation of the weapon can be fully automatic or semi-automatic, the official said.

The idea to induct pepper-ball launchers was given shape after the Trilokpuri riots in 2014 and a few guns procured from a private company were distributed among some special teams, the official added.