Anti-Flight hijacking Act passed

New Delhi, July 7: The Centre has notified the new law of prevention of flight hijacking here on Thursday.The new law was replaced by the Anti-Hijacking Act of 1982. According to the crew, passengers and security personnel who have been died due to hijacking, The hijacking persons must be sentenced to death.

Following the amendments, the perpetrators of hijacking would now be punishable with death penalty where such an act results in the death of "any person". Besides broadening the definition of hijacking, it also provides for an enhanced punishment to the perpetrators.

Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju, who had piloted the bill, had told parliament that the country had witnessed 19 hijacking incidents in India. The Anti-Hijacking Act 2016, which has come into effect, also includes several acts within the definition of hijacking including making a threat, attempts or abetment to commit the offense.

Those organize or directs others to commit such offense will also be considered to have committed the offense of hijacking. The new law incorporates the latest global anti-hijack provisions and brings Indian law in line with the Beijing Protocol of the UN body International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).