Defence Research Laboratory, Tejpur, a laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has developed a chilli spray — Capsispray.

It is an eco-friendly, non-lethal chilli spray for personal protection and self-defence. It contains oleoresin capsicum extracted from the world’s hottest chilli, the Bhut Jolokia (capsicum assamicum), largely cultivated in Assam and other parts of north-east.

This information was given by Defence Minister A.K Antony, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

The prototype of chilli spray is ready and the product is required to be tested for several toxicology parameters. DRDO will take further steps to popularise the product once trials are over.