New Delhi, Feb 7 (IANS): India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a corner-shot rifle for the special forces that provides greater safety during counter-insurgency operations as its user is not in the direct line of fire, a top official has said.

DRDO chief Avinash Chander told India Strategic defence magazine that the lightweight rifle is made of composite materials and is multi-calibre, capable of firing both 5.56 and 7.62 rounds. It is at present undergoing final tests at its small arms unit in Pune.

Once the evaluation trials are over, the rifle design would be offered to a public or private sector industry for manufacture as per the government's decision, and then made available to special forces like the National Security Guard (NSG), Indian Army and police units.

The corner shot rifle, which enables a soldier to fire at 90 degrees or at an angle from behind a wall without facing a terrorist or a target, was first developed in Israel. India is reported to have bought some rifles for anti-terror operations.

Chander said that the rifle is of simple design and would be easy to manufacture.