New Delhi, March 18: With terror threats from skies looming large in the wake of 9/11 in the US, government is likely to amend the existing anti-hijacking law which would arm it with powers to shoot down a hijacked aircraft and providing for death penalty for hijackers.
The issue of amending the law is likely to come up before the union cabinet tomorrow, official sources said.
The amendment will seek to provide a legal backing for any extraordinary move like shooting down an aircraft whose hijack has been established and the hijackers have intentions to target vital installation by using it as a missile like it had happened in New York on 9/11.
The policy also provides for immobilisation of the aircraft and disallowing it to take off if the hijack takes place on the Indian soil.
–Agencies