Special revolver just for working women

WB-based Rifle Factory to unveil 'pocket revolver' Nirbheek in April as attacks on women rise

Rising incidents of attacks on women in the country seem to have put the Ordnance Factory in fast action mode. Helping women safeguard themselves from miscreants, the West Bengal-based Rifle Factory, a branch of the Ordnance Factory, will unveil the 'pocket revolver', Nirbheek, in April 2015.

Keeping in mind the working women population across the country, the Rifle Factory has come up with the .22 mm revolver that women can keep in their handbags.

The latest variant, due for release in April, is an upgraded version of the factory's current lightweight gun, a .32 bore lightweight revolver. "The current lightweight revolver, Nirbheek, was not only expensive, but found buyers in the elite segment. The new version will exclusively target working women with the same firepower and an effective range of 15 to 20 metres," Pradeep Kumar Agarwal, additional general manager, Rifle Factory, told Mirror during the Aero India 2015 in Yelahanka, Bengaluru.

According to Agarwal, the revolver will be made of lightweight metal, enabling women to use it easily. The gun can fire six rounds of ammunition. "It will fit within the palm. The gun will only weigh about 200 gm (without ammunition) unlike the current one which weighs little more than half a kilo. Women can keep it in their purse and move around. Hopefully, it will be released in the market in April this year," he clarified.

Amid reports of robbers targeting bank vehicles to steal currency boxes, the Rifle Factory has also introduced pump action guns for high-level bank security. Replacing the current double- barrel guns carried by bank security personnel, government sector banks are all set to upgrade to pump action guns. "The double-barrel guns are not only heavy, but consume a lot of time to load and fire. In the latest gun with single barrel, it can hold five cartridges and personnel can keep firing. It also comes with a safety catch preventing accidental firing. The guns weigh around three kilos. While the existing gun costs Rs 20,000-30,000, the latest pump action guns would cost Rs 50,000," Agarwal clarified.

The Ministry of Home Affairs recently allowed the sale of 510 mm or 12 bore pump guns among security personnel in banking and forest guards for patrolling purpose, say sources. Factory officials revealed that much of the sales in small arms in the civilian sector takes place in Bihar, UP and Punjab. "It could be attributed to the law and order situation in those states and frequent clashes between groups," an official said.