‘To my dearest sister…,’ terrorist wrote on shawl he gifted to Kandahar hijack survivor
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A woman’s account of the traumatic 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 has come to light amid a controversy surrounding the Netflix series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack.
The series, which chronicles the week-long ordeal of the passengers and crew, has faced backlash after the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting summoned Netflix representatives.
The ministry raised concerns over the series' omission of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) role in the hijacking and the use of code names for the Pakistani hijackers, which has sparked a row on social media.
Kataria, one of the passengers on board, shared her harrowing experience during the hijacking. She described how the passengers were held captive for seven days, uncertain of their fate.
The emotional toll of the event has lingered with her for years, particularly when she boards a flight, as the memories of those dreadful days resurface. For ten years following the incident, Kataria avoided flying out of fear, The Indian Express reported.
One of the most poignant moments she recounted was when, shortly before leaving, the hijackers announced that their demands had been met and they were sparing the passengers.
One of the hijackers approached Kataria, expressing a desire to write on a shawl he had gifted her. Although she was frightened, she allowed him to proceed. He wrote: "To my dearest sister and her handsome husband… Burger 30/12/99." Despite being mocked for this, Kataria has kept the shawl as a symbol of what she refers to as their "second birth."
The controversy surrounding the Netflix series has highlighted the sensitive nature of the hijacking incident, particularly the portrayal of the Pakistani hijackers. The use of code names Bhola and Shankar, instead of their real names, has raised questions about the accuracy and intent behind the depiction.