Explosives: Bill for death penalty passed

NEW DELHI, Dec 17 (PTI) — The Lok Sabha today passed a Bill providing for capital punishment to those causing an explosion by special category explosives like RDX, PETN and HMX with an intent to endanger life or property.

The Explosive Substances (Amendments) Bill, 1998, was adopted by voice vote after the House rejected all the amendments.

Legislation would act as deterrent to terrorists, specially those backed by Pakistan’s ISI, Home Minister L K Advani said.

Rejecting amendments to include uranium 235 and plutonium in the "special category explosives" moved by Mr R R Pramanik (CPM), Mr Advani said after consultations with scientists and Defence Ministry officials, the government was of the view that this was not necessary.

He said explosives like RDX (research development explosive), PETN (penta erythritol tetra nitrate), HMX (high-melting explosive), remote control devices and some others were being sent into India by the ISI.

The Home Minister said capital punishment was necessary in the context of India where a large number of innocent lives were being lost and properties destroyed on a regular basis.

However, the amendment met with apprehensions about the death penalty from some opposition members who also demanded safeguards against misuse of the provisions.