THE PUBLIC NEWS 24 : Did Netflix series ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ incorrectly use Hindu names for hijackers ?
"The hijackers of IC-814 were dreaded terrorists, who acquired aliases to hide their Muslim identities. Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha, legitimised their criminal intent by furthering their non-Muslim names
TPN24 Desk 
THE PUBLIC NEWS 24, श्री. आलोक शुक्ला द्वारा रिपोर्ट
The controversy surrounding the Netflix series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack has sparked significant debate, particularly regarding the use of Hindu names for the Pakistani terrorists involved in the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight. The series, directed by Anubhav Sinha, has been praised for its gripping portrayal of the hijacking, but it has also drawn criticism, especially from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Controversy Explained
The core of the controversy lies in the names given to the hijackers in the series. In IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, the five hijackers are referred to by the names Chief, Doctor, Burger, Bhola, and Shankar. BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya criticized the series, accusing the filmmakers of using these Hindu names to "legitimize" the criminals' intent, thereby potentially misleading future audiences into believing that Hindus were involved in the hijacking.
Malviya's criticism has been echoed by others, including historian Hindol Sengupta and journalist Vir Sanghvi, who argue that the series may serve as a form of propaganda by downplaying the involvement of Pakistani terrorists and instead portraying the hijackers in a misleading manner.
The Real Names of the Hijackers
In reality, the five hijackers were identified by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on January 6, 2000, as Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Mistri Zahoor Ibrahim, and Shakir. However, during the hijacking, the terrorists reportedly used the aliases Chief, Doctor, Burger, Bhola, and Shankar among themselves and in communication with the passengers. These names were used as code names or nicknames, which is why they appear in the series.
Response from the Series' Creators
In response to the backlash, those involved in the series defended their portrayal. Mukesh Chhabra, the casting director, and Neelesh Misra, an author who wrote a book on the hijacking, both stated that the use of these aliases was based on thorough research. Misra emphasized that these were the names by which the hijackers referred to each other and were known to the passengers during the event.
Anubhav Sinha, the series director, also supported this defense, indicating that the show aimed to stay true to the historical record by using the names that were actually used during the hijacking.
Conclusion
The controversy highlights the sensitivity around historical events and their portrayal in popular media. While the series attempts to bring to life the harrowing experience of the 1999 Kandahar hijacking, the choice of names for the hijackers has sparked a debate on the ethics and responsibilities of filmmakers in representing real-life events, especially those involving national security and terrorism. The series continues to be a topic of intense discussion, with opinions divided on whether the portrayal was appropriate or misleading.
