Cabinet may okay death penalty for hijackers

New Delhi: Concluding the internal debate on whether death penalty should be handed out to hijackers, the UPA government has finally decided that the measure is necessary to send unambiguous signals to those hijacking a plane as an act of terrorism.
On Friday, the Union Cabinet is expected to give its approval to amendments to the Anti-hijacking Act, 1982, that will, while terming the action of hijacking a plane for terrorism an act of aggression against the country, award capital punishment to those held guilty. Clause 4 of the Act, which now provides for life imprisonment and a fine for hijacking, will be amended to include death penalty. A new clause covering aspect of conspiracy to hijack an aircraft that does not exist in the old Act will also be approved.
The death penalty, however, will not be exercised if the purpose of hijacking is established as anything than a terrorist act. Other laws will apply if it is proved that the hijacker is not a terrorist. A Group of Ministers (GoM), headed by Home Minister P Chidambaram, had approved the changes in the Anti-hijacking Act some time ago.
19/03/10 Indian Express

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Categories: Safety Mar 2010