Hoax Bomb Calls Can Land Offender in Jail Soon

New Delhi: Hoax bomb threat calls will no longer be a kid’s play as the government is planning to bring an amendment in the existing aviation laws to make such calls a cognisable offence leading to punishment and fines. Besides, the offenders may be put on the “no-fly” list for life.

The move comes at a time when several Indian airlines flying both domestic and international are facing bomb threats on a daily basis. In the last one week, nearly 100 flights of Indian airlines received bomb threats.

While speaking at an event, Union civil aviation minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu on Monday said the government plans to take legislative action to deal with instances of bomb threats to airlines, including placing perpetrators of such threats on the “no-fly” list.

“The safety and security of passengers are of utmost priority … We are making it a cognisable offence, so based on that amendment, there is going to be punishment and also fine … From the ministry, we have thought of some legislative action if it is required. We have come to the conclusion that there are two areas that we can explore -- 1) Amendment in the Aircraft Security Rules… one of the ideas that we want to propagate by changing these rules is that once we catch hold of the perpetrator who is behind this, we want to put them on the no-fly list. And, 2) Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Safety of Civil Aviation Act, 1982.”

He added that the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) is continuously in touch with the Union home ministry on the situation of bomb threats to flights.

The civil aviation ministry had last week held a meeting to assess the situation and decided on steps to prevent mishaps. The BCAS had on Saturday met officials of the airlines to discuss the matter.