IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack - Survivor Insights on Netflix Controversy

IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack Survivor Perspectives

Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the Netflix series 'IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack' over the 'Hindu' codenames of the terrorists who hijacked the Delhi-bound Indian Airlines flight from Kathmandu 25 years ago, two survivors have shared their insights into the row. Rakesh Kataria, one of the survivors, mentioned he refused to watch the series as he did not want to relive the ordeal. He stated, 'I have heard about the controversies, but what Netflix has shown is the truth.'

Truth Versus Interpretation

Rakesh discussed how out of the five hijackers, two were codenamed 'Bhola and Shankar', asserting that those were not their actual names but merely aliases. He acknowledged that the Netflix series did not fabricate these details; rather, it aimed to depict the truth. His wife, Pooja Kataria, echoed this sentiment, adding that while the series reflected true events, it heavily emphasized political negotiations over what occurred internally during the hijacking.

The Harrowing Details of the Hijack

• Pooja spotlighted 26 couples onboard returning from their honeymoon in Nepal.
• She recounted that the scene depicting passengers keeping their heads down during the hijack mimicked real-life events accurately.
• The ordeal extended over seven days, contrary to the hijackers' belief that it would conclude in two days.
• Pooja recalled speeches made by a hijacker demanding conversions to Islam, stating that many passengers responded with confusion during such trying times.

As the Netflix series continues to be scrutinized, the discussion points towards its portrayal of the tense hijacking and negotiation period while acknowledging the omission of significant internal conflicts.