IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack: Makers summoned for using ‘Hindu names’ for terrorists; govt document confirms aliases

A controversy has erupted over docuseries IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack directed by Anubhav Sinha. After many social media users slammed it for using aliases such as ‘Bhola’ and ‘Shankar’ for the terrorists involved, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has summoned a Netflix content head on Monday.

However, a Union Home Ministry statement dated January 6, 2000, said that while the names of the hijackers were Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Mistri Zahoor Ibrahim and Shakir, they had indeed used aliases. "To the passengers of the hijacked place these hijackers came to be known respectively as (1) Chief, (2) Doctor, (3) Burger, (4) Bhola and (5) Shankar, the names by which the hijackers invariably addressed one another," the Home Ministry statement read.

Earlier, BJP leader Amit Malviya had written on X, "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. Result? Decades later, people will think Hindus hijacked IC-814." He had added, "Left's agenda to whitewash the crimes of Pakistani terrorists, all Muslims, served. This is the power of cinema, which the Communists have been using aggressively, since the 70s. Perhaps even earlier."