Anti-Hijacking Bill providing for death penalty passed in Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha today passed the Anti-Hijacking Bill strengthening the existing bill by providing death penalty for the hijackers even if ground handling staff and airport personnel are killed during such acts.

According to earlier bill, hijackers could only be tried for death penalty only in the event of death of the hostages.

The bill was first introduced in the Rajya Sabha in December 2014 and was passed by the upper house, on Wednesday. The bill has replaced the Anti-Hijacking Act of 1982 which was last amended in 1994.

Other than providing death penalty, the new act also awards life imprisonment with confiscation of movable and immovable property of the hijackers.

The 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 covers several acts within the definition of hijacking including attempt and abetment of hijacking, making a credible threat to commit hijacking and organising or directing others to commit hijacking.

The bill also makes the offence extraditable, which means a country may transfer the accused to another country's legal jurisdiction as hijacking is a political offence, reported The Times of India.