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Divyakant Solanki / EPA
Indian women hold up knives that were distributed by the Shiv Sena party in Mumbai, India, on Wednesday.
MUMBAI, India — A radical Hindu nationalist party in India has handed out kitchen knives and chili powder to women in the city of Mumbai following the gang rape that ignited a national debate on the best way to tackle sex crimes.
The Shiv Sena party, an ally of the main opposition BJP, said it had handed out 21,000 knives with three-inch blades to women in the city and surrounding areas and plans to distribute 100,000.
Mumbai police said they were examining the knives and considering legal action.
"This is a symbolic gesture," said Shiv Sena spokesman Rahul Narvekar, adding that a knife shorter than six inches in length does not fit the definition of a weapon. The party also handed out small bags of chili powder -- apparently to throw into an attacker's eyes.
"It's only to pass a signal to eve-teasers [men who molest women], anti-social elements and perpetrators of crime against women that women are empowered and they can take care of themselves," Narvekar said.
'Don't be afraid'
Ajay Chaudhari, running the knife campaign, was quoted by the party newspaper Saamana as saying, "Don't be afraid of using this knife if someone attacks you."
"We have set up a team of nine advocates to protect you from any potential court cases that may arise," he added.
A 23-year-old physiotherapy student was raped and beaten on a moving bus on Dec. 16 before being thrown bleeding on to a busy road in New Delhi, dubbed India's "rape capital."
Mumbai is generally considered a safer city for women.
The attack and the student's death two weeks later caused public outrage at the failure of the government and police to protect women from rising sexual offenses in a country where one rape is reported on average every 20 minutes.
In response, more women are taking up self-defense classes and carrying pepper spray. A government commission set up to recommend revisions to India's sex crime laws this week said women who kill an attacker during an attempted rape should be able to plead self-defense.
Related:
PhotoBlog: Women in India's 'rape capital' speak out
Report: Six suspects held over another India bus gang rape
Defense attorney blames victim in India gang rape, murder case
Leave a Comment:
Knives? Chili powder?
No, they need guns. Dead rapists will never rape again.
God did not create man, and woman equal........ Colonel Colt did.
It's legal for Pennsylvania deer. I use two ounces in a blowgun and have a finished stew after just dragging the thing home. Backfires can be a problem.
Girl Power! The only thing I recommend now is that they take a class on how to defend themselves with a knife. I would have to hear that one of the pulled it out and the attacker took it and used it on them.
We should sell them our "assault weapons" since we won't be able to own them here pretty soon....
And the country of India actually has nuclear weapons? What a stone age cluster F mentality to where you think this Indian society is sub-human. The only thing that worked in the Dark Ages was public beheadings, start here for the Indian rapists........
What do they want them to do with the kitchen knives and chili powder? protect themselves or cook dinner?
Elvis said is all.
Cut off their peckers - they will never rape again
I guess the Party couldn't affford pepper spray.
Elvis-362920
So, let's add a billion more guns to the world and that will make it somehow safer? We already saw what happened in Afghanistan when we provided weapons to the Mujaheddin through the CIA to fight the Russians. Within a decade they were pointed at our own troops.
The Right has no logic or sense! PERIOD! NONE! NADA! ZILCH! ZIPPO!
Yes they need to be armed, because defending yourself is a right, even with deadly force.
@cheetah-822547: Wow, you seem like a compassionate human being, killing a defenseless animal.
Cut the pecker with the knife. Then put some chilli powder on it and roast it on a coal fire with a skewer through it. When done, sprinkle some lemon juice on it and serve with hot naans and spicy pickles. May be an ice cold beer in that hot and humid tropical weather will be a plus when feasting on that "Lund ka kabab".
Mumbai police said they were examining the knives and considering legal action.
Action for what?? more rapes they won't prosecute or rapists they can't or won't catch??
Cut the little peckers off the rapists, hang them publicly, then stuff their peckers in their mouths. I assure you that rape would decline.
"Hah hah hah. That’s not a knife…THAT’S a knife." - Crocodile Dundee
Good call 2 little.
Feinstein carried a concealed weapon (now she is for banning guns) for what she stated was "self defense" so maybe Indian women should be allowed to carry concealed weapons also.
Heck might as well meddle into Indian internal affairs.
Maybe the United Nations will intervene.
it doesn't matter if they have all the guns/knives/pepper spray/etc in the world.... until they change there laws:
"recommend revisions to India's sex crime laws this week said women who kill an attacker during an attempted rape should be able to plead self-defense"
So as the law is now in India, if the woman did kill an attacker, SHE would be imprisoned...? WTH?
normally I believe that more guns are not the solution, and yet in this case - I can't help but be drawn to this solution: arming the women against the evil men who seek to rape them.
but, the rational part of my brain once again overrides the emotional part of my brain that says HELL YEAH, ARM EVERY WOMAN IN INDIA! - and concludes, if you arm the women...then the men will just arm themselves, and they'll just rape them anyway...or they'll seek out vulnerable women and accost them before they can pull their gun out.
guns only work in perfect situations, the rest of time - there isnt enough time to respond to a sudden attack, and counter it effectively with your gun.
so ultimately, a better solution:
just start rounding up men who've been accused of raping women - and just kill them, and display their bodies for all to see, and promise more of it.
but this group who carries out the killings has to covert, the people cant know WHO is doing it - all they have to know is if they rape a woman, this group IS coming for them.
why am I now picturing a blockbuster movie starring Angelina Jolie (because of course you cant hire REAL Indians to play actual Indians) as the leader of this rogue band of AMAZONS who hunt, gather, and slaughter the accused rapists?
Vox,
So what do you think is going to happen with the F-16 and M1A1 tanks we have given to Egypt? Their leader is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, and thinks Isreal should be destroyed.
If they outlaw distribution of the knives, this group could hand out pruning shears instead.
These could be put to good use by potential victims and insure that the rapist never attempts to rape again (or, at least, comes up a little short if they do try again!).
You're one to talk. The libtards are in power now and the CIA is still supplying weapons in places like Libya and Syria. Foreign interventionism doesn't work, liberty and the right to arm and defend oneself with firearms does.
Oh God...here comes Ido again with his nonsense. Feinstein is not for banning guns, she is for banning assault weapons and large magazines. But, facts never stops Ido from appearing stupid, over and over and over again.
Interesting idea. So if I want to knock off someone, all I would then need to do is accuse him of rape? You will take care of the rest?
You seriously think your firearms have the slightest chance of maintaining your liberty if the US Government comes for you? You really think you can stand up to the US military with your silly little guns? What are you smoking?
God Forbid I live to 95...
The LAST thing I'm going to want is to be bitched at 24/7!
That being said I am not condoning what he did-- it is murder.
Lots of people think that Israel should be destroyed. Are you seriously going to try to convince us that they want to see Israel destroyed so badly that they are willing to turn their children into radioactive dust?
When the Nazis started slaughtering Jews, the Jews were a powerless minority and the Nazis were the mightiest military force in the world. Today, the danger is not TO Israel. It is FROM Israel.
Too bad they aren't US citizens .... they could buy a firearm.
For now at least....
Yes, that way the gangs of rapists could hold them at gunpoint instead. Wonderful idea! They rely on the element of surprise, these women wouldn't have a chance of grabbing a gun in time.
The whole point of carrying a weapon for self defense is to actually carry it. If you are grabbed, unless your hands are incapacitated, you can reach into your purse, pocket, whatever and retrieve your weapon and deploy it. You too have the element of surprise, because your attacker is likely presuming you are unarmed, only you know that you are armed. The downside to a knife is that you must get in close to use it and use force to effect real damage. This is where a gun is superior, you don't have to be close and you only have to be strong enough to pull the trigger. but any weapon, even the chili powder is better than no weapon. The object is to incapacitate your attacker long enough to get to safety. Those of you that say that you want to kill them, don't try that in a court if you are charged, you will find yourself on the wrong end of a murder or manslaughter charge. You may shoot to kill, and always should, but your intent is not to Kill but to stop the attack.
Rub some nasty old grease on that knife and let the infection stop the rapist.
One poke is enough to make a woody go down.
traveler - if I have to reach ANYWHERE for a gun, it's game over.
you do understand what "attacked" means?
generally, there is no warning, and generally they will come up from behind you - and yes, restrict your arms.
now if it starts out as harrassment, sure maybe you've got time to reach into the purse and pull the gun out.
but again, you have to be willing to use it - and im certain a lot of women wouldnt be.
considering in India, they'll be the ones going to prison...not their attacker.
they dont get the George Zimmerman (you're almost white) Discount at the courthouse.
Jessica that is a blatant racist comment!!
I think Jessica is right. And btw, 3 inch blade knives would surely make me and many others feel a lot safer Lol.
From what I understand rape is a serious problem over there. Good for them taking matters into their own hands to protect themselves! Maybe it will make attackers think twice.
It's a huge problem over here as well!
Rape is something that happens all over the world not just in developing nations.
Good for them. I especially like how its The Shiv Sena party handing out 'shivs'. I wonder if the irony is lost in translation :)
Now if the "Shank" Sena party gets on board there will be complete representation.....
LOL! You beat me to it.
Oh wow. I hope it helps. Good Lord
Those people have some SPICY women.
and SHARP too.
Sounds like the best available strategy, since the government appears to be more aligned with rapists than women.
Creating an environment of uncertainty for the rapist where the woman may injure or kill him will cool some of these losers.
Like ours favors criminals!!! MOSTLY THE DEMS they want US helpless
women who kill an attacker during an attempted rape should be able to plead self-defense
How about justifiable homicide??
I like how they use the word "should". What they should have said is any woman who kills an attacker during an attempted rape WILL be able to plead self defense. The Ravens "should" win the Super Bowl, but I'm not going to bet my life savings on it.
How about instead of probably being able to plead self defense they don't have to plead anything because no charges are filed?
In college, one of my instructors was from India. She was always putting men down and I even asked some of the guys why they didn't report her. It was reverse discrimination.
I found it hard to believe that this woman had been married and even had a son. Now, I completely understand why she had such a hatred for men.
In this story, the cops were looking into the legality of the knives and they want to change pass a law that if a women kills a would be rapist that it would be self defense.....What the hell else would it be??? Why is it not already considered self defense?? It is because in India, the women are belongings and not people. Now I understand my former teacher and I now sympathize with her.
Now, in India, a woman with an anti-rape knife can stab any man or boy and throw chili powder into his eyes without prosecution.
Your former teacher was a Feminists AKA Female Supremacist and practiced sexual discrimination in the classroom. What did you and your fellow students have to do with the crimes of some men in India or any other country? Do you think your education should be compromised by a woman that didn't like the actions of a rapist in India?
Women here used to use hatpins for weapons on trolley cars and elsewhere. They were about 2-3" long, and were easy to hide until needed. They'd stab the guy bad enough to show that the woman meant business.
hey at least the politicians in India are actually thinking about the real issue and trying to form a solution. (albeit however crazy it sounds) Unlike our politicians in the US that will protect themselves and their children with firearms, but want to disarm the honest citizen. They would probably be the same people that allow the criminal to sue the victims.
Gun control doesn't mean disarming honest citizens. But, nice try.
And I guess you are referring to the fact that the US gov't is trying to remove ASSAULT rifles to decrease the chances of a crazed idiot killing a lot of children/people at any given time. I wish people would SHUT UP if they are not going to repeat the FACTS. WHY do you need an ASSAULT RIFLE in America? Are you at war???!!!! Please! We are in one of the most spoiled countries in the World! How many individuals are you needing to kill at one time? I think for a typical crime, a regular gun would suffice to keep you safe. If you want an assault weapon, do something for the country instead of just sitting back and whining and sign up to serve America. Go to war and fight for our freedom instead of just sitting back and typing on your computer about issues you seem to know nothing about.
@ JaevisMom
First of all disarming law abiding citizens, who aren't the ones committing crimes, isn't going to make any difference. Secondly, Lanza could have easily killed everyone at Sandy Hook with his handguns because there wasn't anyone to oppose him. The outcome would have been the same.
LOL. Assault rifle/weapon. Do you even know what one is? An assault rifle if a military grade weapon that is capable of being switched into full-auto mode (i.e. selective fire capable, like the M-16). Very few civilians own these since they are very expensive, highly regulated, & impossible to buy in many states.
All guns could be considered assault weapons as could a shovel if I hit you in the head with one. The term is ridiculous & it's used to scare/confuse people who don't have any knowledge about guns.
Secondly, an AR-15 (i.e. incorrectly labeled assault rifle) is nothing more than a black semi-auto rifle.
The only difference between these two:
1. Black, plastic/metal, detachable magazine fed semi-auto AR-15 rifle
2. Wooden stocked, detachable magazine fed semi-auto hunting rifle
is the way they look. That's it. They both function the same way. They both have the same rate of fire.
Well, there is one other difference. Your average hunting rifle is chambered for larger/more powerful rounds, which means they can do more damage at greater distances more accurately than the AR-15 could ever do with the .223 caliber (5.56x45mm military version) round it fires.
Yet you probably don't have any issue with people owning more powerful hunting rifles. If so that would make you a hypocrite.
People use AR-15s for various purposes & it is one of the most popular rifle platforms out there.
1. They are used in 3-gun competition
2. They are used for home defense
3. They are used for small game (varmint control), coyotes, wild boar
4. Just for fun/recreation target shooting
They are also easy, especially for smaller people & women, to shoot since there is virtually no kick when fired.
Your odds of getting killed by a gun (all types combined) in the U.S. is a small fraction of 1%. The odds of someone shooting up a school, mall, office etc...is also a small fraction of 1%. You have a greater chance of getting struck by lightening. Though the fear mongering media makes people think otherwise.
Feinstein's draconian gun legislation isn't going to go anywhere. It will get shot down in flames (no pun intended).
When it comes to guns I think you are the one typing on your computer about issues you seem to know nothing about. LOL
What do the women in Steubenville Ohio get to protect them against their high school football "heroes"?
Guns.
They should give out glocks! A knife is too dangerous if you don't know how to use it.
this is NOT going to work...especially after you tell everyone that the woman you are going to try and rape might have a knife.....India is really screwed up
Give those women TASERS!!!
The men in this world have a lot to answer for. It really makes me wonder how civilization ever happened anywhere.
If he is looking for a poke.....give him one.
The knives are for castration and the chili powder is to dress the surgery wound. Sounds good to me.
The knife seems just fine for gouging into an eye socket. Guaranteed that once some human pig intent on raping finds his eyeball hanging out - he'll stop pretty darn quick.
Or- ram the knife into the ear canal. The swine will go crazy trying to tear it out.
No mercy given.
Men or women may have their eyes gouged out with the Rape Knife even for giving the appearance of thinking about rape.
"Office, that woman looked like she was thinking about raping me. So, I stabbed both of her eyes."
Maybe after a few rapists lose their "equipment" during the attempt, the other scum will think twice.
why does it seem like they're escalating the raping lately.... are they afraid they gonna get banned / caught so they try to rape more first just in case.....
and this is from a place where gender unbalance is at least as bad as china, if not worse. if they had made the unbalance the other way (more women than men) then these women would have begged to be raped instead, what an irony. so... there you go china.... you know what's coming to the street corner near you.
anyone notice that this, along with gun violence in the USA, and abroad, indicates a dramatic upward trend in people arming themselves ?
so we're going the militant path, as a civilization then?
Well then sure, I'd kill YOU too, if you came at me with things like this.
Thing is, I don't need a news story to "permit' me to do such things.
I will just assume that EVERYONE is armed from now on.
no, I've never raped or plan to rape anyone.
but I'l defend myself against these knive-wielding women in a heartbeat.
It used to be that men were told to not hit women.
'
that day is over.
Your comment makes no sense. Men STILL shouldn't hit women OR RAPE them for that matter. Go ahead and ASSUME everyone is armed. This information shouldn't really affect/matter to you unless you are planning on raping which you said you are NOT planning on doing....so what was the point of your post again? Are you trying to create an argument for hitting women now? How about keeping your violent ways to yourself and you won't have to worry about any woman attacking you in self-defense of herself. #tooeasy #nuffsaid
These women need to be taught how to USE the knives, or they are useless. A knife is a poor substitute for a firearm but if quick enough , jammed in the kidney, would slow the attacker down considerably. The best pepper spray does not always work.
I hope they've been taught how to properly use one to paralyze a guy - in the upper thigh, and TWIST!
India's woman should look to the US for knife statistics and rape. Knives are more likely to be taken from the victim and used against that victim in a rape situation.
They would be better off with Fogger MK-9 17 oz can of pepper spray. They can mow down an entire crowd of rapists which seems to be the problem out there.... gang rape.
A knife? Good luck with that. They're just going to end up pissing off the rapists.
I do think the spray would be a better tactic. The women can use the spray from a further distance and attack more people in a shorter period of time.
The women can then shoot pepper spray at people they don't like and claim the people, women and/or men, had rape on their minds.
Mr. Blokesworth-You have a serious problem. If ANY WOMAN knows who you really are they should watch their backs!
Women can use the Anti-Rape Pepper Spray cans to shower lines of people. Potential rapists, male or female, of any age can benefit and learn from the experience of a false accusation followed by assault by pepper spray and a day or two in the slammer. Every woman, even those not living in India, deserves to feel Grrrl Power. You Go, Girl !