Hyderabad, February 05: In a hi-tech era, can robbers afford to stick to their crude old tools like knives and clubs? “No,” says a gang that conveniently adapted pepper spray to quell any resistance from its victims. Busted recently, the gang has been making good use of the spray, widely used by women abroad as a tool for self-defence.
Well, don’t jump to the conclusion that the sprays are freely available in the city. The miscreants are buying them on the Internet! The Cyberabad police stumbled on these facts after arresting the members of a notorious inter- State robber gang involved in about 50 robberies in the city and recovered property worth Rs 50 lakh. The gangsters have not only mastered the use of pepper sprays but also other modern gadgets like heavy gold cutters.
Cyberabad Police Commissioner S Prabkhakar Reddy said that most of the inter-State gangs were using self-defence itching sprays rather than knives and other traditional weapons to commit offences.
During interrogation, the gangsters had revealed that they had committed robberies and dacoities using pepper sprays.
“In case the miscreants face any resistance from victims while committing any offence, they spray the sophisticated itching spray on them and decamp with valuables,’’ Prabhakar Reddy said. The gang used `Bodyguard’ pepper spray which they bought online from a website.
The pepper spray is capable of immobilising a person for more than three hours by causing temporary blindness or acute irritation in the eyes. Pepper sprays are popular in western countries where women carry them to protect themselves from stalkers. It is a non-lethal weapon.
The Commissioner said pepper sprays were not available in the local market. “However, if there is any retailer selling such products, he or she should note down the name and contact details of the purchaser,’’ he added.
When Expresso checked the availability of the product with some retail shops, the shopkeepers said they procure it on order and advance payment.
“We provide these sprays to customers through online bookings. At least four to eight spray bottles are sold per month,’’ said N Narasimha, owner of Nidhi Medical store at SR Nagar.
–Agencies