IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack controversy explained: Here's why Netflix's new web series is under fire

The Netflix series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack has become the talk of the town with its interesting plot. The multi-starrer series will take you back in time and will make you relive the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight by terrorists. Well, the series has got rave reviews, but it seems as if netizens are not happy with the same. The six-episode series has run into controversy and has surely made Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members upset. They alleged that the makers of the show have whitewashed the crimes of Pakistani terrorists with their series. As per reports, the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry has reportedly summoned Netflix India's head of content. Here's what happened.

IC-814 - the series and the controversy

The series was released on August 29 and was directed by Anubhav Sinha. It stars Vijay Varma, Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Manoj Pahwa, Arvind Swami, Anupam Tripathi, Dia Mirza, Patralekhaa, Amrita Puri, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Kumud Mishra in main roles. Well, the series showcases the hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight in December 1999 which took seven days to resolve. It was the longest seizure of an aircraft in Indian aviation history as per reports. On December 24, 1999, five masked men hijacked the aircraft IC 814 and 40 minutes after it took off from the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and was bound for New Delhi. The show has received critical acclaim, but it is also under the radar for some netizens.

Watch the teaser below:

Well, reportedly the series has named the terrorists involved in the hijacking as Chief, Doctor, Burger, Bhola, and Shankar. Netizens feel makers have tried to whitewash the terrorists involved in the hijacking. While, other allege the makers deliberately chose Hindu names for the hijackers, rather than their actual names. As per a report in the Swarajya, historian Hindol Sengupta called the movie pathetic for its glorification of terrorists. He also said that the series does not acknowledge the long-term impact of the terrorists released during the hijacking, but is diminishing the severity of the real-life events.

Here's why netizens are objecting

According to sources, the objection is on, 'The portrayal of events during the hijacking of Indian airlines flight IC 814 from Kathmandu to Kandahar in a recent OTT series is far from the truth. The script and characterization of actors in the series are an attempt to erase facts and replace them with fiction to normalize a crime against the nation masterminded and facilitated by Pakistan's ISI' as per News18 reports.

They further said, 'The plotters of the hijacking had intentionally chosen aliases for the hijackers that would sow confusion. This tactical ploy was repeated later when Pakistani terrorists who attacked Mumbai, most notably Kasab, were made to wear mold on their wrists as part of their attire'.

Here's how twitterati reacted

The hijackers of IC-814 were dreaded terrorists, who acquired aliases to hide their Muslim identities. Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha, legitimised their criminal intent, by furthering their non-Muslim names.

Result?

Decades later, people will think Hindus hijacked IC-814.

Left's

Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 1, 2024

Names of IC814 Hijackers changed to Shankar & Bhola by @anubhavsinha

This is how Bollywood let the TERRORISTS WIN:#BoycottBollywood#IC814TheKandaharHijack

IC814 Names in

Hijackers Webseries pic.twitter.com/lv0xeVgIJu

Stranger (@amarDgreat) September 1, 2024

This is how #Bollywood lets terrorism win #IC814TheKandaharHijack pic.twitter.com/GMVTIgBgeU

Eminent Intellectual (@total_woke_) August 31, 2024

Casting director Mukesh Chhabra has defended using the codenames of the hijackers and said, 'I am reading so many tweets about the names of the hijackers. We did the proper research. They used to call each other by those names nicknames or fake names, whatever you want to call them. And thank you, everyone, for loving the ensemble cast. A big thank you to my team, and especially to Anubhav Sinha for trusting us and giving me the freedom to explore'. While, Neelesh Misra who wrote the book on the Kandahar hijacking titled 173 Hours in Captivity: The Hijacking of IC814 said, 'All the hijackers assumed false names. That is how they referred to each other and how the passengers referred to them throughout the hijacking Regards, the author of the first book on the IC-814 hijacking'.

Here's the truth behind the names

Netizens have been trending #BoycottIC814 on social media. But, what is the reality behind the names of the hijackers? The real story states that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on January 6, 2000 stated that the terrorists involved in the Kandahar hijacking were namely Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Mistri Zahoor Ibrahim and Shakir. They also added that the passengers of the hijacked place these terrorists came to be known as Chief, Doctor, Burger, Bhola and Shankar - these were the names by which the hijackers called each other. Don't miss out on this edge-of-your-seat thriller. IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack on Netflix.