IC814 Controversy Explained: Why Netflix's 'IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack' is making headlines?

Netflix web series IC814 Controversy and Real Story: Why Netflix's 'IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack' is making headlines? Everyone has been wondering and asking the same question after it has been making headlines. Let's try to explain the controversy surrounding the Netflix web series IC814.

'IC814: The Kandahar Hijack', has ignited a significant controversy. The series, which dramatizes the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight, faces criticism for allegedly distorting historical facts, downplaying terrorism, and offending public sentiments. As a result, the Indian government has summoned Netflix India's content head to address these concerns.

The Hijacking Incident: IC 814

On December 24, 1999, Indian Airlines Flight IC 814, en route from Kathmandu to Delhi, was hijacked by five terrorists just 40 minutes after takeoff. The hijackers, associated with the Pakistan-based terrorist group Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM), redirected the aircraft to Kandahar, Afghanistan, which was under Taliban control at the time. The crisis, lasting eight days, saw the terrorists demand the release of three high-profile militants: Maulana Masood Azhar, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar. Under immense pressure to ensure the safety of the 154 passengers and crew on board, the Indian government eventually agreed to release the militants. Then-External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh personally escorted the freed terrorists to Kandahar, a decision that remains contentious to this day.

IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack

Directed by Anubhav Sinha, *IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack* was released on Netflix on August 29. The series, featuring actors like Vijay Varma, Naseeruddin Shah, and Pankaj Kapur, has garnered widespread attention, not just for its narrative but also for the controversy it has sparked. The series has been accused of misrepresenting the hijackers by giving them Hindu names such as "Shankar" and "Bhola," which some viewers believe obscures their true identities and connections to Islamic extremist groups.

This portrayal has led to a social media outcry, with hashtags like #BoycottNetflix and #BoycottBollywood trending on platforms like X (formerly Twitter). Critics argue that the series attempts to rewrite history, whitewash terrorism, and vilify the Hindu community by assigning Hindu names to the terrorists.

Government Response

In response to the growing controversy, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has reportedly summoned Monika Shergill, Netflix India's content head, to discuss the matter. This development follows concerns that the series' depiction could potentially alter public perception of the 1999 hijacking incident.

Historical Context

Following the hijacking in 1999, the then Union Home Minister released a statement that revealed the involvement of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in supporting the hijackers. The statement detailed how the hijackers—Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Shakir (alias Rajesh Gopal Verma), Mistri Zahoor Ibrahim, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, and Ibrahim Athar—used nicknames like Bhola, Shankar, Doctor, and Burger to communicate inside the plane.

"To the passengers of the hijacked place these hijackers came to be known respectively as (1) Chief, (2) Doctor, (3) Burger, (4) Bhola and (5) Shankar, the names by which the hijackers invariably addressed one another," the government statement reads.

Although the film has been controversial, it is still one of the most-watched series on Netflix since the day of its release.

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