JOIN USDelhi Police have prohibited use of laser beams near Indira Gandhi International Airport and made it a punishable offence under Indian Penal Code.
A prohibitory order with strict instructions has been issued after the Air Traffic Control (ATC) of IGI Airport complained that the laser beams distracted pilots while landing aircraft. The airport authorities had also raised the issue with the Union Civil Aviation Ministry.
After initial probe over the complaint, police found that several farm houses, banquet halls, hotels and restaurants near the airport were using laser to celebrate marriages, parties and other events.
Currently, there are no rules to regulate use of laser especially in open during night hours.
“It was necessary to take immediate measures in this regards to prevent danger to human life and safety of aircraft,” said Rajinder Singh Manku, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Sub-Division Palam).
Accordingly, the use of laser has now been prohibited under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). The order came into force from Thursday.
“Any violation will be liable to be punished under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code,” Manku added.
Earlier this month, the pilot of a Cathay Pacific aircraft from Hong Kong had complained to the ATC about a blinding light from laser beam interrupting his vision while landing at the airport. It was not a rare incident of laser beam distracting the pilot.
In the Cathay Pacific case, police were trying to locate the source of the laser light within a seven-km area near the airport including Vasant Kunj, Dwarka, farmhouses in Kapashera and Gurgaon. Police were also clueless as to what section of IPC would a case be registered.
“It is a serious matter and something that can lead to a major tragedy. Such lights can cause temporary blindness when they hit the eyes directly,” the officer said.
DH News Service