Pepper spray sales soar in Delhi

NEW DELHI: After the heinous attack on a physiotherapy intern in Delhi, pepper sprays are flying off the shelves with more and more women taking their security in their own hands. Pepper spray dealers said there is a whopping increase in the sales of pepper sprays in the past few weeks - ever since the December 16 incident of the gang-rape of a 23-year-old in the city.

"Usually we sell about 10 to 20 cans per month. But after the incident, I'm selling almost 50 everyday," Manish Mitra, a dealer, told IANS. "Lots of enquiries are pouring in and there are also bulk order from offices, particularly BPOs in National Capital Region (NCR)," he added.

He also said cans come in different sizes and the price ranges from Rs 150 to Rs 500. A normal pepper spray can usually has 35 grams of pepper and expires after three years. The mix of pepper and other chemicals cause a burning sensation in the eyes and on the skin.

An advertisement of a "self defence pepper spray" Bodygard goes on to detail what else it can do -- "Inflame his throat; Inflame his lungs; Make him temporarily blind... Cut off all his functions except breathing". It is just not young working women who are relying heavily on pepper sprays for their safety. Many companies are also making bulk orders - to instil security in their women employees who work late in the night.