hammer

NEW DELHI: Four years after al-Qaida operatives turned planes into missiles and wounded the US, India has decided to adopt stricter anti-hijacking norms which allow shooting down a “hostile” plane if there is conclusive evidence that it is being used to blow up strategic establishments.

"The 9/11 attacks have changed the way the world looked at terrorism. Those attacks made the world realise that even commercial jets could be used as missiles and we have reviewed our anti-hijack norms to meet any such eventuality in the Indian skies," a senior government official said.

The anti-hijack policy — cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) last week — rules out negotiations with hijackers on their demands and makes it clear that talks would only be aimed at preventing loss of life or ending the incident.

The new policy comes nearly six years after militants hijacked an Indian Airlines plane from Kathmandu to Kandahar in December 1999. The hijack ended after India freed three militants from jail. One passenger was killed in the incident.

"Any attempt to hijack a plane will be treated as an act of aggression against the country, and no negotiations will be held on the demands of the hijackers. Negotiations, if any, will only be tactical and demands of the hijackers will not be considered if it has an impact on national security," the official said.

Outlining the measures, defence minister Pranab Mukherjee said if any hijacking took place on Indian soil, the aircraft would be immobilised and not allowed to take off.

Under the revised policy, hijackers will be delivered the death penalty.

The new norms promises to end red-tapism to ensure that permissions are granted immediately for armed intervention, a move that would reduce reaction time, sources said.

If an Indian registered plane is hijacked, personnel at all airports shall — without seeking the permission of superior authorities — seek to immobilise the aircraft at that airport itself. In case the plane is air-borne, the new rule states that IAF planes shall escort the hijacked plane within the Indian airspace at all times.

IAF has been given the authority to take necessary steps for scrambling fighter jet to guard and guide the hijacked aircraft and force it to land on an Indian airport. Then, it will be prevented from taking off again by positioning oil tankers in front of the aircraft, a source pointed out.

In case it’s conclusively ascertained that an aircraft has turned rogue — or deviating from its stated flight path — it would be shot down lest it turns into a missile, as it happened on 9/11.


The doubtful nature of the aircraft can be assessed from factors like its deviation from originally allotted flight path, non-compliance by pilots to instructions given by Air Traffic Control, switching off the plane’s transponders, no response to radio telephony and aligning of the flight path to a strategic target like VVIP areas or nuclear installations.

"Unless the pilot communicates, to the full satisfaction of the ATC, that the plane has not been hijacked and a technical failure of the transporder is responsible for communication links failing, the plane would be considered hijacked... Once it is determined that the plane will be used as a missile to target strategic buildings or thickly populated buildings, the aircraft will be termed hostile and IAF will take action to destroy it," the official said.

The new policy lays down procedures to ensure NSG commandos, accompanied by a central negotiating team, are airborne within two hours of hijack, sources said.

TimesofIndia

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vicky007

This is nothing but a Paper tiger.A worthless piece of policy not worth the price of the paper it was written/Printed on. Know why?

The Statement here:

"The anti-hijack policy — cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) last week — rules out negotiations with hijackers on their demands and makes it clear that talks would only be aimed at preventing loss of life or ending the incident".

What is the sole motive of a Hijacker? To keep People as Hostage till Demands are met.
Now if we were to go by the Statement above the indian Govt "will Negotiate with the Hijackers to save lives", so the Hijackers would be right in trying to Hijack the Plane because the Indian govt will try to save lives. This is an Open Invitation to Hijackers for a repeat of the Khandhar Disaster.
This policy of making itself Vulnerable again and again is what makes India a Soft nation.

The Policy of Indian Govt should be Like Israel NO NEGOTIATIONS WHATSOVER WITH THE HIJACKERS. Period.
Only Commondo action and Bullets for the Terrorists.

Maximus

Actions would always continue to speak louder than words. I am spectical whether the politicians would have the balls to put these thoughts to actions when the time comes.

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Lahori paa jee

India may be planning to come up with a 9-11 of its own. Dont know whats the motive behind this but it surely is a deep planning.

We may be seeing another self created drama of hijacking from Indians.

Of course they are masters in it. History tells this

Adux

another 9/11 conspiracy theory guy,
when will all these dumb people get their madrassa education out of their heads.Welcome to reality./. we dont need a 9/11 to blow out pakistan. they are insignificant wether they like it or not. there is no competition, their enemy india is changing and there is nothing they can do about it, keep trying your bleed india by 1000 cuts strategy.

Josh

aaaditya

the thing is that this anti hijack policy is already being well supported(the media,the opposistion parties,the public,and even the passengers who suffered during the ic 814 hijacking) they actually say that this policy should have come into effect 5 years ago.
the main points of this policy are.
1)efforts will be made to prevent a hijacked indian registered aicraft from escaping from the indian airspace and forcing it to land at an indian airport.
2)negotiating with the hijackers only for the safe realease of the passengers and for the surrender of the hijackers.
3)the hijackers terms will be absolutely non negotiable(you either realease the passengers and surrender or you die)
4)if all ffforts fail initiate commando action(it was not possible last time as the plane was flow to kandhar due to hasty decision of the airport manager who released the aircraft before the commandos could get there).these guide lines will prevent such occurances.
5)the hijacked aircraft will be shot down only if used to target strategic indian installations (like in the case of 9/11)no one will complain and the indian government will be fully justified ,even the opposistion parties will support such a situation9if they are taken into confidence)since it would be akin to an act of war.

this is nothing new many nations have such anti hijack policies usa,singapore atc(india was a bit late in implementing it though).

vicky007

Hey this guy did not get his fix today and is clearly suffering from withdrawal symptoms.
La(whore) paagal better rush otherwise you will be getting into Convulsions too.

Lahori paa jee

Just to support what i said earlier. Indians came up with a drama of hijacking in 1971's war, then during Zia's time our armies came eye to eye after a Hijacking from indian side then we had kandhar.

Vicky no one is suffering from withdrawal symptoms. Its just that reality bites.

Akshay

If Kandhar was played by Indian side then why is Pakistan keeping the released prisoner in exchange to Indian hostages? Why didn't the taliban allow Indian commandos to storm the plane when they had arrived at Kandhar airport?

Reality Bites!!!!!!! who??????? Please provide proof of your reality.

Asim Aquil

Good, I hope India extends that to Pakistan too. So if your hijacked planes come close to our borders, we'll do what Indian politicians don't have the spine to do and not refuel and resupply planes instead.

Airliner hijacking is an old ploy in the Indian books. Somebody needs to ask them to get a little creative now and then. LOL, this is all bull, what does India have that'll be targetted like the WTC, by planes!

Adux

blinded by faith and propaganda
u guys need reality check, 9/11, 7/7 , parliment attack all are done by west and india.

Josh

indianguy4u

Is there any sort of connection between madarssa education & conspiracy theories? .

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lemontree

You guys already have your jihadi friends to do it for you. Why do you need our permission.
You mean like rearming the hijackers with more guns. Like the 1987 case?
Do you have the proof?...IC 814 has been proved to be a ISI operation. But you will stick your self denials. So whats the point?

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Cheers!...on the rocks!!

Asim Aquil

How has it been proven?

I have proof for the Alliance airline being a hoax hijacking? The Indian government's trying to shrug it off as a crank call that got out of hand. Sounds far fetched when they gave demands, and identified them to be Pakistanis.

Adux

prove it asim,

Josh