Laser, beam lights banned within 15km radius of Sambhajinagar airport for 60 days

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Police commissioner Pravin Pawar on Friday issued a prohibitory order banning the use of laser lights and high-intensity beam lights within a 15-km radius of the city airport and across the police commissionerate limits between Feb 15 and April 15 (60 days), citing serious threats to flight safety.The directive, issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, follows a communication from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) highlighting growing concerns over the misuse of laser and beam lights during weddings, social events, religious programmes, and celebrations at farmhouses, marriage halls, and other venues near the airport.According to the order, powerful laser and beam lights aimed skywards can disrupt aircraft operations by distracting pilots and impairing their vision, especially during take-off and landing. "Such lights can momentarily blind pilots and potentially trigger serious air traffic incidents, putting passengers at risk," Pawar said.Exercising his powers as special executive magistrate under Section 163 of the BNSS, Pawar has prohibited individuals and event organisers from projecting laser or beam lights into the sky within the 15-km airfield radius of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar airport, as well as throughout the police commissionerate's jurisdiction.Violators will face action under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which provides for punitive measures.Deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners and police station in-charges have been directed to widely publicise and enforce the order in their jurisdictions. Since serving the order personally to all concerned is impractical, officials have been instructed to display it prominently at police stations, police offices, the cantonment board, municipal corporation offices, the central bus stand, the railway station, major markets and public libraries.