Indian parliament passes anti-hijacking bill

Indian parliament (the country's lawmaking body) Monday passed the Anti-Hijacking Bill-2016 that provides death penalty to the hijackers even if ground handling staff and airport personnel are killed during such hijacking bids, officials said.

The lower house of the parliament (Lok Sabha) approved the bill after it was moved by Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju in the house. According to Raju, the legislation has been framed in line with the International convention.

In the previous bill, hijackers could be tried for the death penalty only in the event of death of hostages, such as flight crew, passengers and security personnel.

The new bill defines hijacking as seizing control of an aircraft in service, unlawfully and intentionally, by technological means or by exercising force, coercion, or any other form of intimidation.

It also widens the definition of hijacking which includes attempt and abetment of hijacking, making a credible threat to commit hijacking and organizing or directing others to commit hijacking. The upper house of the parliament (Rajya Sabha) had passed the bill earlier. Enditem