IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack Row: Former RAW Chief denies receiving any warning as shown in series; points out multiple inaccuracies

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As an ardent fan of historical narratives and a connoisseur of intricate storytelling, I must admit that I was eagerly anticipating the release of IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack. However, it seems my enthusiasm has been dampened by the storm of controversy that surrounds this series.

Day by day, Anubhav Sinha’s newly launched series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is causing a new wave of debate. Initially, the controversy centered around the renaming of hijackers, but now it’s being criticized for its inaccuracies. Recently, AS Dulat, former head of R&AW, and Anand Arni, former special secretary of R&AW, have highlighted several inaccuracies depicted in this Netflix production.

For those not familiar, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack recounts the events of December 24, 1999 when five terrorists hijacked an Indian Airlines flight IC-814 shortly after takeoff from Kathmandu en route to Delhi. A total of at least 154 passengers and crew were taken hostage for eight days until the Indian government was compelled to meet their demands.

Just to clarify, the series isn’t a documentary but it’s adapted from the book “Flight Into Fear: The Captain’s Story” by Devi Sharan and Srinjoy Chowdhury. As the creators of IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack have drawn inspiration from a book, Dulat believes that certain aspects may differ from what was originally reported about this potential hijack, including the claim that Indian intelligence received prior knowledge of it.

Dulat stated to The Print that there was absolutely no prior notice, contradicting what was portrayed on the show. He further explained that it made no sense for the station chief to withhold such crucial information. In response to Anand’s explanation about the 100 prompts suggesting potential threats but no clear and active warnings of a hijack being issued, Dulat remarked that it was all speculation.

The Netflix series depicted not only the events unfolding but also how the agency obtained information from various media sources. At the same time, Anand stated that the news spread universally without any delay. Moreover, it was stated by the former special secretary that a command center was established swiftly. Dulat further mentioned, “An officer suddenly entered and instructed me to attend the Crisis Management Group (CMG) meeting immediately. I rushed off, with some others following shortly after. Within 20 minutes, everyone had gathered, marking the commencement of the CMG’s operations.

The duo further asserted they had no knowledge regarding the alleged smuggling of RDX through that particular aircraft, as depicted in the series. However, they confirmed that the hijacked plane with the relief crew was not given clearance to depart, and it was reported that Taliban members were seeking a red suitcase. Even the Joint Managing Director of Air India admitted they were searching for something, but they remained unaware of what exactly it was that they were looking for, stated Anand.

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2024-09-09 14:53