After significant public backlash and intervention from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Netflix grudgingly agreed to add a disclaimer that mentions the real names of the hijackers—Ibrahim Akhtar, Shahid Akhtar Sayeed, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Zahoor Mistry, and Shakir. But anyone watching a series knows that a disclaimer is just a fleeting formality, easily overlooked. The real damage occurs through the narrative itself, where these Islamist terrorists hide behind Hindu pseudonyms like Bhola, Shankar, Chief, Burger, and Doctor, effectively distorting reality and rewriting history.
ONE MORE VICTORY FOR INDIANS
Finally Netflix mentioned the name of 5 Pakistani terrorists who hijacked IC814.
Netflix added their name in Disclaimer with their code names
-Ahmed Qazi
-Shakir
-Mistri Zahoor Ibrahim
-Shahid Akhtar Sayed
-Ibrahim Atharpic.twitter.com/YR6KFFmyC4— Sunanda Roy 👑 (@SaffronSunanda) September 3, 2024
Rebranding Terrorism in IC814
Sinha’s series relentlessly attempts to humanize the terrorists who hijacked IC814. The narrative carefully curates scenes where hijackers express reluctance to harm passengers, portraying them almost as victims of circumstance rather than cold-blooded killers. We are expected to believe that these terrorists, who murdered Rupin Katyal and violently assaulted other passengers, actually acted considerately, even allowing an air hostess to make a phone call to her father. The series asks us to empathize with them, to see them as complex characters rather than the murderers they truly were.
This attempt to evoke sympathy for the hijackers isn’t just irresponsible but deeply insulting to the victims and their families. It grossly misrepresents the truth, serving no purpose other than pushing a particular narrative—one that downplays the brutal reality of Islamist terrorism.
Undermining Indian Intelligence
Sinha’s depiction of the Indian government’s response to the hijacking further reveals his agenda. The series portrays Indian intelligence as utterly incompetent, with a RAW operative in Kathmandu supposedly aware of a Pakistani plot targeting IC814, yet unable to prompt any meaningful action. This portrayal flies in the face of actual events, suggesting a level of negligence and failure that never occurred. It’s a classic case of rewriting history to fit a specific narrative.
Particularly troubling is the depiction of Ajit Doval, who led the negotiations with the hijackers. The series portrays Doval as an erratic and reckless figure, whose harsh demeanor allegedly escalates the situation. This portrayal not only distorts Doval’s crucial role but also appears to be a calculated attempt to tarnish the reputation of one of India’s most respected security officials. Whether Sinha made this choice deliberately or not, the result grossly distorts reality.
The Taliban: Peacemakers of IC814
In one of the most surreal twists, the series portrays the Taliban as the voice of reason during the hijacking crisis. The Taliban minister emerges as a calm, rational figure, tirelessly advocating for a peaceful resolution because, as the series would have us believe, “bloodshed is un-Islamic.” This portrayal not only inaccurately portrays the Taliban but also dangerously distorts the truth. The Taliban, notorious worldwide for their brutality and extremist ideology, are recast as peace-loving diplomats, a narrative so divorced from reality that it borders on propaganda.
This whitewashing of the Taliban’s image becomes even more disturbing given the ongoing global struggle against terrorism. By softening the image of a group notorious for violent extremism, the series undermines the real and ongoing threats posed by such ideologies.
Exonerating the ISI: A Convenient Fiction
Sinha’s series commits its most egregious act in its attempt to exonerate Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) from involvement in the hijacking. The series ends by showing the released terrorists celebrating with Osama Bin Laden, pointedly excluding the ISI from the scene, thus implying that Osama masterminded the operation alone, without ISI’s involvement. This narrative not only misleads the audience but also blatantly ignores the well-documented links between the ISI and various terrorist groups.
By absolving the ISI of its role, the series not only distorts the truth but also sends a dangerous message—that state-sponsored terrorism can be conveniently forgotten or rewritten to suit a more palatable narrative.
The Missing Speech: What Else Did Sinha Leave Out?
Perhaps the most glaring omission in the series concerns the fact that one of the hijackers, gave a speech inside the aircraft during the 1999 hijacking, urging passengers to convert to Islam and declaring that Islam was superior to Hinduism. This wasn’t a minor detail; it was a significant moment that demonstrated the ideological zealotry driving these terrorists. According to the testimony of passengers, Shakir’s speech wasn’t just a rant but a clear expression of the hijackers’ intent to impose their religious beliefs on others through violence and fear.
Terrorist tried to influence passengers to CONVERT to Islam
– Kandahar Hijack survivor, Pooja Kataria reveals shocking details of the hijack
Why was this not shown in the movie IC814 ?? pic.twitter.com/0RDzBLeXUi
— Sheetal Chopra 🇮🇳 (@SheetalPronamo) September 3, 2024
Why did Sinha hide this crucial fact from the Netflix series? Acknowledging such an event would have complicated the narrative of humanizing the hijackers. By omitting this fact, the series not only whitewashes the true nature of the hijackers but also deprives the audience of a full understanding of the terror inflicted upon those passengers.
Anubhav Sinha’s Dangerous Narrative
Adding a disclaimer with the real names of the terrorists amounts to a token gesture that fails to mitigate the damage caused by this series. Anubhav Sinha’s retelling of the IC814 hijacking doesn’t just work as a piece of fiction—it represents a deliberate attempt to rewrite history, recast terrorists as victims, and undermine the efforts of those who risked everything to save lives during this crisis.
The real tragedy here doesn’t just involve the hijacking of IC814 but also the hijacking of truth itself.