India to award death penalty to flight hijackers

India will join countries awarding death penalty to hijackers and has enlarged the scope of punishment for such offence by approving introduction of a new anti-hijacking bill in Parliament.

India will join countries awarding death penalty to hijackers and has enlarged the scope of punishment for such offence by approving introduction of a new anti-hijacking bill in Parliament.

After the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 in December, 1999, it was felt necessary for providing the award of death penalty to perpetrators of the crime.

Union cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved the introduction of the Bill that provides for death penalty to hijacking offence committed in India, on its citizen or on board an aircraft registered in India or if the aircrafts land in India with the perpetrator on board.

Security analyst Arif Khan sought introduction of more security aspects. “Hijackers are always on a suicidal mission when hijacking, so more thrust should be on prevention. But enlarging the scope to include those abetting hijacking is a positive move,” Khan said.

The Cabinet also ratified the Beijing Protocol, 2010. This protocol will include crimes like abetting hijacking and has enlarged the scope, expanded jurisdiction and strengthened extradition and mutual assistance regimes.