'Edge over terrorists in 26/11 possible if DRDO weapons used'

New Delhi, Aug 12 (PTI) Security forces would have had an
edge over terrorists during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks if they
were equipped with weapons developed by the country's defence
labs, a top Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO) official claimed Wednesday.

Several technologies like stun grenades, chilli bombs and
laser dazzlers are "not known to any one" in the security
agencies, P S Goel, Chairman of the Recruitment and Assessment
Centre, DRDO, said delivering the Aryabhatta Lecture at the
annual meeting of the Astronautical Society of India here.

Goel, who is also a member of the National Security
Advisory Board, said security forces would have gained an
upper hand while fighting terrorists at Hotel Taj Mahal or
Nariman House had they used DRDO-developed weapons.

Stun grenades and chilli bombs have the capacity to
paralyse persons within the vicinity of the explosion for a
few minutes, while laser dazzlers cause momentary blindness.

"The inertia of the system (administration) is so great
that these technologies are not available to the law enforcing
agencies. We have failed in giving any advantage to our
security forces," he said.

Goel, former Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, made
a strong pitch for technologists to be a part of the national
security apparatus.

"National security is too serious to be left to security
agencies alone. Technologists must make it their business," he
said. PTI SKU
DDC