A pharmacist in Karnataka, India, has designed a ring that will help women defend themselves during an assault.
Thirty-year-old Imran Khan from Babbur village in Chitradurga district designed a protective devise to avoid future incidents similar to the 16 December Delhi gang-rape.
The device, known as "Sting Bee silver ring", consists of a micro needle, micro tank and a micro pump. It also includes an RFID tag, the automatic identification system that uses radio waves to track people or any item and two locking systems for safety, DNA reported.
The ring works on capsaicin, a liquid chemical compound normally derived from cayenne peppers. Capsaicin is the same chemical that is used in pepper sprays. While the micro tank helps to keep the chemical, the user can spray the chemical at the attacker using the micro pump. Once the user presses the pump the needle will pierce into the body of the attacker.
During an assault, women can easily counter-attack her opponent by shooting an injection needle containing the chemical. The chemical causes a burning sensation in the mucous membranes. "As Capsaicin is four times hotter than Bhut Jolokia (pepper) and 300 times more spicy than Guntur red chillis (from Andhra Pradesh), it stimulates chemoreceptor nerve endings in skin and causes shooting pain for 45-60 minutes in an offender when injected into his body from the ring's micro tank using a micro pump and a micro needle," Khan told The Times of India.
Khan, who is also the founder of the "Save My Sister Charitable Trust", said he is manufacturing the ring with the help of a jeweller in Mumbai and a pharmacy in Bangalore.
The ring will cost approximately ₹1,999, with an additional charge of tax and delivery. Each re-fill of the chemical will cost ₹1,000. The ring will also be available for purchase via courier.
The invention has already invited a debate on the net. "Good invention with increasing harassment of women all over the country, the product, if it can do what it claims to do, will be a huge hit with women," a reader commented on DNA, while another added in The Times of India, "Good Invention as long it does not fall into wrong hands... which is what it would happen in India."
Assault against women has been a constant concern across the country and efforts are being made prevent such occurrences. Earlier in April, three students in south India launched an anti-rape underwear and lingerie that give assaulters a 3800kv electric shock. With the help of an built-in GPs, the garment will send alerts to parents and authorities.
