13/01/2014
NEW DELHI: An Indian handgun designed for women and named after
the victim of a fatal gang-rape in Delhi was condemned by rights
activists on Sunday as a disgrace to her memory.
The lightweight .32 calibre revolver was developed by the state-run
Indian Ordnance Factory (IOF) and can fit inside a small purse or
handbag, according to a newspaper report.
The factory in the northern city of Kanpur has received 20 orders
since the titanium-alloy, six-shot gun — costing 122,360 rupees ($1,976)
— was launched earlier this month, the Times of India said on Friday.
“At least 80 per cent of the bookings are from women,” IOF general
manager Abdul Hameed told the newspaper, adding that more orders were
expected soon.
“Expectedly, the weapon has received a very good response,” he said.
The gun is called “Nirbheek” meaning “fearless” in Hindi and was
intended as a tribute to the 23-year-old student whose brutal attack in
India’s capital in December 2012 sparked outrage about the levels of
violence against women in India.
The student was given the nickname Nirbhaya (also meaning fearless)
by the media and authorities after the attack because she could not be
named under Indian law.
But activists said the gun showed Indian authorities “completely
misunderstood” how they were supposed to protect women from high levels
of violence across the country.
“It really is an insult to the memory of Nirbhaya,” said Binalakshmi
Nepram, founder of the Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network on Sunday.
“Our research shows that a person is 12 times more likely to be shot
dead if they are carrying a gun when attacked,” she told reporters.
“It also shows that the government of India has failed to protect
women by resorting to this. Arming women is not a responsible way to
secure their safety and security,” she said.
The Indian government was introduced tougher laws for rapists and
other offenders and a range of other judicial and policing reforms in
the wake of outrage over the student’s attack on a moving bus.—AFP
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