The heinous hijack of Indian airlines IC 814 on Christmas eve 1999,is a blot on the fair name of humanity. IC 814 was hijacked on its way from Kathmandu to New Delhi, India. Over the ensuing 8 days, as IC 814 embarked on a prolonged, horrific journey, the whole world waited and watched to see what would happen to the nearly 200 people on board the plane. The passengers, who were mainly tourists, had not even an iota of imagination that the short journey of 1 hour 20 mins would turn into 8 days of terror and deadly aftermath.
IC814 left Kathmandu at 4 pm on 24th December 1999, a week before the whole world awaited the ushering of the new millennium. As soon as the plane entered the Indian air space, 5 heavily armed hijackers overpowered it namely:
1.bhola- mistri zahroor ibrahim
2.burger-ahmed qazi
3.doctor-shahid akhtar
4.shankar-shakir
5.chief-ibrahim akhtar
The hijackers ordered the pilot Captain D. Sharan to divert the plane towards west. The captain tried all witty tactics saying that there is very little fuel and the plane needs refueling. The hijackers were adamant initially but reluctantly agreed to land in Amritsar to refuel. The pilot hoped that rescue teams would end the hijack drama at Amritsar itself. However, the crisis management group in Delhi directed the Amritsar airport authorities to ensure that the plane was immobilized, which armed personnel of Punjab police were already in position to do. They did not receive approval from New Delhi. This callous act by the Indian government was severely criticized all over the world. Eventually, as time progressed with no refueling, the hijackers got suspicious and ordered to fly the plane, disregarding the pilots repeated pleas to wait and refuel.
The plane took off but due to extremely low fuel, the pilot requested emergency landing in Lahore, Pakistan. Pakistan blatantly denied the request fearing that their country might be linked to terrorism. Pakistan shut down its air traffic services, thus, effectively blackening the whole Pakistan air space. With no help from the ATC, Captain Sharan banked on his visual instincts and began descending on what he thought was a runway, only to suddenly realize it was a well lit road and aborted landing on time. On absorbing the fact, there is no other option, Lahore airport allowed the aircraft to crash land and refuel. But Pakistan officials rejected the pilots request to offload some passengers.
The plane took off to Dubai where 27 passengers were released along with Rupin katiyal,who was repeatedly stabbed by the hijackers, he later succumbed to his injuries. As the news of the hijacking spread, the world media turned its attention towards it and the callous attitude of Indian govt grabbed many eyeballs. Soon after the release of passengers in dubai, the plane headed to Kandahar.
After the plane’s descent in Kandahar, Taliban authorities, in attempt to gain international recognition, agreed to co-operate with Indian authorities. The hijackers initially demanded 35 islamic militants in Indian jails and US$ 200 million . The hijackers were adamant and were not ready for any “talks”. They negotiated with the Indian authorities, headed by ajit doval along with Taliban militiant for over 30 hours.
The conditions inside the plane were far from humane. The petrified passengers wet their clothes on their seats; their silent cries; chimera that they will soon return to their loved ones safely. The passengers experienced and lived those days in fear and many uncomfortable emotions. Family members of the passengers spent days in agony, anger, sorrow and hope that their loved ones will return home safely. They intensified the pressure on the government to take quick measures to end the hijacking.
A.B Vajpayee, the then PM, along with Brajesh Mishra, former national security advisor and their intelligence team decided to release 3 most dreaded terrorists:
1. maulana masood azad(responsible for parliament attack in 2001and founder of Jaish-e-mohammmed)
2.omar sheikh(facing death sentence now for brutal murder of Daniel peral,us journalist)
3.mushtaq ahmed zargar(responsible for training islamic terrorists in POK)
The prayers of the passengers and their family members did not go unheard and on 31st December 1999 all the hostages of IC 814 were released in exchange of the 3 terrorists.
But the hijacking of IC 814 and its deadly consequences has added another chapter in the history of terror.
The hijackers are now residing freely in Pakistan and have not been heard of since then. Indian intelligence and Interpol have requested the Pakistan govt to arrest and extradite them but all requests have been ignored.
The release of the 3 terrorists was right or wrong is a question which has no correct answer. If they were not released then, many more passengers would have been brutally killed but their release triggered a spat of terror attacks not just in India but the rest of the world.
But the question to really ponder upon is” why did the Indian govt not take swift severe measures at Amritsar airport against the hijackers??”
Till when will we live in the fear of being killed by some ruthless religious fanatics and still see our govt (which claims to be for the people and by the people) turn blindfold to our misery and fears???It is time we stop languishing in our fear and dream of a world which is free from fear.
“You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith”- Mary Morrissey
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