Netflix show on India plane hijacking sparks row

A new Netflix series titled IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack has stirred up significant controversy in India. This six-episode mini-series recounts the dramatic events of the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight that was traveling from Kathmandu to Delhi. The hijackers, who were armed militants, took control of the plane shortly after takeoff, demanding the release of several prisoners held in India. The situation escalated over eight tense days, during which the Indian government ultimately agreed to release three militants, including a man named Azhar, in exchange for the safe return of the passengers. Azhar later became the founder of a terrorist group known as Jaish-e-Mohammad, which has been linked to numerous attacks in India. The decision to release him and the other militants has remained a contentious issue in Indian politics, with opposition parties frequently criticizing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for their actions during that time. The release of this series has reignited discussions about the hijacking and the decisions made by the government. The series is based on a book called Flight Into Fear: The Captain's Story, written by Devi Sharan, the captain of the hijacked flight, and journalist Srinjoy Chowdhury. It begins with the hijackers boarding the plane at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and quickly moves to the moment they announce the hijacking to the crew and passengers. The show focuses on the interactions between the hijackers, the crew, and the passengers, as well as the efforts of Indian government officials to resolve the crisis. However, the series has faced backlash from some viewers who are upset about how the hijackers are portrayed. Critics on social media have pointed out that the filmmakers used common Hindu names like Bhola and Shankar for the hijackers, even though their real names were Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Mistri Zahoor Ibrahim, and Shakir, all of whom were from Pakistan. BJP leader Amit Malviya expressed his concerns on social media, stating that by using these 'non-Muslim' names, the filmmakers could lead viewers to believe that Hindus were responsible for the hijacking. In response to the controversy, a right-wing Hindu organization has filed a petition in a Delhi court seeking to ban the series, claiming that it distorts historical facts and misrepresents the events of the hijacking. Reports indicate that the Indian government has even met with a senior Netflix executive to discuss the issue, although neither Netflix nor the Indian information and broadcasting ministry has commented on the matter. Despite the criticism, many defenders of the series argue that it is factually accurate. A statement from India's home ministry in 2000 confirmed that the hijackers used aliases to communicate during the hijacking. The statement noted that the hijackers were known to the passengers by names such as Chief, Doctor, Burger, Bhola, and Shankar. This information has been corroborated by witnesses and journalists who reported on the incident at the time. Kollattu Ravikumar, a survivor of the hijacking, also confirmed these aliases in an article published in 2000. He recalled that the hijackers had a leader named Berger, who often shouted orders, and he remembered hearing the names Bhola, Shankar, and Doctor being used among the hijackers. This incident is not the first time that international streaming platforms have faced backlash in India. Earlier this year, Netflix had to make changes to a show after members of hard-line Hindu organizations objected to certain scenes. In 2021, the cast and crew of an Amazon Prime show faced criticism for allegedly mocking Hindu deities. The ongoing debates surrounding the Kandahar Hijack series highlight the complexities of storytelling in a diverse society and the challenges faced by filmmakers when addressing sensitive historical events.