Piracy Bill to be discussed today

New Delhi, Jan 12: The Union Cabinet will take up the piracy bill on Thursday, Jan 12 that intends to make piracy at sea a criminal offence.

The Bill sees piracy as an offence and a new provision will help deal with the menace.

The Bill will also provide security to merchant vessels and empower the Coast Guard and Navy to take on pirates, set up assigned courts for speedy trials and provide life imprisonment for pirates.

India has no stringent laws to punish the captured pirates taken into custody.

“Whoever commits an act of piracy shall be punished with imprisonment for life except where the accused has caused death in committing the act of piracy or attempt thereof in which case he may be punished with death and in addition the designated court may also subject to any restitution or forfeiture of property involved in the commission of the offence," says the Bill.

OneIndia News