Laser dazzlers to tackle mobs soon

While the smaller hand-held dazzlers may be seen in operation in the state in the next few months,a larger vehicle borne mob control system that will be able to handle larger crows without causing permanent damage or injury is under development and is expected to be ready by the end of next year.

The system is particularly efficient against stone pelters as it can be directed towards individuals,rendering them temporarily blind. In a crowd,individual troublemakers can be identified and can be rendered temporarily disabled by using the dazzlers. It is a non-lethal system and will not cause permanent damage to the eyes, said Anil Kumar Maini,Director of DRDOs Laser Science and Technology Centre LASTEC,which has developed the system.

The smaller hand held dazzlers,which will soon be used in the Valley,can target individuals at a range of 50 metres,the larger vehicle borne system would be able to direct the laser beam to a distance of over 250 metres. While paramilitary forces will get a limited number of the systems in three months,larger numbers would be manufactured based on their feedback.

The system was developed by the DRDO lab after interest was expressed by security forces in Kashmir that are stuck in a cycle of violence with mobs that do not back down with conventional efforts.