New Delhi: After the barbaric gangrape-cum-murder incident in Delhi of December 16, 2012, the first handgun has been devised for women to defend against such heinous crimes.Let us watch in pictures India's first firearm for women: The gun has been manufactured by the Indian Ordnance Factory, Kanpur. The gun named Nirbheek derives its name from Nirbhaya the media name of the Delhi gang rape victim. It is a .32 bore light weight revolver weighing 500 grams. It is also the first IOF handgun made of titanium alloy. The gun is priced at Rs 1, 22,360. It is the smallest revolver of India suitable to be put inside a small purse or handbag. The revolver is capable of firing six rounds loaded in a revolving chamber; hence any misfire of a round does not affect next shot, unlike in a pistol. Positive location of main spring eliminates malfunctioning as well. Since the gun is named after the victim of fatal gang rape in Delhi, women rights groups have condemned it and said that naming a gun after the victim brought disgrace to her memory. After the December 16 gang rape, the Indian government had introduced tougher laws other offenders and a range of other judicial and policing reforms.The attack had sparked public outrage and mass movement in the whole nation.The victim died in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012 after a 13 day struggle to survive injuries so grievous that her intestines had to be removed.She underwent three major surgeries - including one to remove her intestines - and suffered a cardiac arrest in India before being flown to Singapore for treatment.
Updated on: February 07, 2014 7:01 IST
