IC 814: Real-Life Survivors Admit Two Hijackers Were Code-Named ‘Bhola’ And ‘Shankar’; Support Netflix For Showcasing Truth

Netflix web series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack has been under controversy for using ‘Hindu’ names of terrorists. In one of the scenes, a terrorist was seen using ‘Hindu’ code-names for his teammates. It disappointed viewers and created outrage on social media. Netflix content head Monika Shergill was also summoned by the I&B Ministry on September 3 for the same reason. The series was based on the 1999 hijacking of flight IC 814 of Indian Airlines from Kathmandu to Delhi. Now, the real-life survivors came forward and stated that Netflix had tried to show the truth and admitted that the terrorists were Muslims but two of them had Hindu codenames. 

Rakesh and Pooja Kataria, were the newlyweds who boarded the IC 814 flight in 1999 have taken a stand on behalf of Netflix and claimed that it has tried to show the true story. In an interview with India Today TV, Rakesh said “Those weren't their actual names, just aliases. Netflix did not make up the names. The five hijackers were Muslim, but the two had Hindu codenames. This is not made up, Netflix has tried to show the truth.” He also admitted that two were code-named ‘Bhola’ and ‘Shankar’. 

Pooja also supported her husband’s statement and said that ‘Bhola’ and ‘Shankar’ were the code-names used for the hijackers. She further mentioned that the show focused more on negotiation matters and political elements than the hijack itself. Pooja said, “Burger, Doctor, Bhola, Shankar and Chief, were the codenames of the five terrorists. What you see in the Netflix show, is what we actually went through.”