How Many People Died During The IC 814 Hijacking
The Indian Airlines Flight 814 hijacking of 1999, depicted in the Netflix dramatization IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, remains one of the most infamous acts of terrorism in Indian history. The harrowing ordeal on the flight to Delhi, which lasted for eight days, captivated the nation and the world.
As depicted in the recent Netflix series, the hijackers demanded the release of three imprisoned terrorists in exchange for the hostages. The series has quickly climbed the global Netflix charts. It offers a chilling account of the events, from the initial hijacking to the dramatic conclusion.
One Person Died During The IC 814 Plane Hijacking Out Of 179 Passengers
The Hijacking Had One Fatality, A Newly-Wed Indian Businessman
The hijackers of Flight 814, which made its journey in December 1999, wanted to instill terror into the passenger hostages and government officials. They had already convinced IC 814’s Captain Devi Sharan, to fly West by threatening to execute ten of the hostages. They began to show their power by moving some passengers from economy to business class, and vice versa. Among the passengers moved to business class was Rupin Katyal, who was in the process moved away from his wife, Rachna. The newlyweds had been honeymooning.
The next day, Rupin Katyal was brutally slain. This heinous act was a stark demonstration of the hijackers’ unwavering resolve and a chilling reminder of the deadly consequences that would follow if their demands were not met. Shahid Akhtar Sayed, code name “Doctor,” considered the most ruthless of the five terrorists aboard IC 814, executed Katyal in a particularly gruesome manner, sending a message of terror and intimidation to both the Indian government and the hostages. This tragic event heightened the urgency of the situation and further complicated the negotiations.
How Many People Were Injured During The IC 814 Hijacking & What Happened
Many People Were Injured While The Hijackers Demonstrated Their Ruthlessness
17 people were injured during the IC 814 hijacking among the 179 on board. Some of those who sustained injuries were among the 27 released at the Al Minhad Airbase. One was Satnam Singh, who was relieved but extremely worried about his co-passengers still on board. He recalled that the violence had escalated while the plane was refueling at Amritsar – according to Singh, he was among six passengers whose hands were bound, a:
“When the authorities dilly-dallied about refueling, they started a countdown. The moment they counted zero someone yelled, ‘Kill him!’ One of them started stabbing me. (Rupin) Katyal was right behind me… he was killed.”
The hijackers, identified as Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Mistri Zahoor Ibrahim, and Shakir, were Pakistani nationals and members of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM), a militant group. They hijacked flight IC 814 as soon as it entered Indian airspace. Their original demands were to release 36 terrorists, give $200 million, and “the coffin of martyr” Sajjad Afghani. The Indian Government was criticized for how long it took to negotiate while passengers were held hostage for a week. Eventually, India released three imprisoned terrorists, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, Masood Azhar, and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, in a swap for the hostages of IC: 814: The Kandahar Hijack.
Source: Rediff
