The SAARC Convention (Suppression of Terrorism) Act, 1993

(1) This Act may be called the SAARC Convention(Suppression of Terrorism) Act, 1993. (2) It extends to the whole of India and, subject to the provisions of section 6, it applies also to anyoffence under this Act committed outside India by any person.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-- (a) "Convention" means the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Convention onSuppression of Terrorism signed at Kathmandu on the 4th day of November, 1987 as set out in theSchedule; (b) "Convention country" means a country in which the Convention is for the time being in force.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any otherlaw, the provisions of Articles I to VIII of the Convention shall have the force of law in India.

(1) Whoever, by force or threat of force or by any other form of intimation,seizes or detains any person and threatens to kill or injure that person with intent to cause a Conventioncountry to do or abstain from doing any act as the means of avoiding the execution of such threat,commits the offence of hostage-taking. (2) Whoever commits the offence of hostage-taking shall be punished with imprisonment for a termwhich may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

For the purposes of the Extradition Act, 1962 (34 of 1962), inrelation to a Convention country, an offence under sub-section (1) of section 4 or any other offencespecified in Article I of the Convention, shall not be considered to be an offence of a political character.