IC 814 Controversy: Netflix Adds Terrorists' Real Names To Disclaimer After Summons From Ministry Of Information And Broadcasting

After appearing before the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) over the controversial web series 'IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack,', Netflix has decided to include the real names of the Pakistani terrorists.

The web series, which portrays the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight, came under controversy for using the hijackers' names as 'Shankar' and 'Bhola', which were their code names.

After social media outrage alleging that this was deliberately done to shield their Muslim identity and create a Hindu terror narrative, Netflix India's content head was summoned by the I&B Ministry.

As per the announcement by Netflix India's content vice president, Monika Shergill, the opening disclaimer of the series has been updated to include the real-life names of the terrorists along with the codenames.

"For the benefit of audiences unfamiliar with the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814, the opening disclaimer has been updated to include the real and code names of the hijackers," the statement said.

"The code names in the series reflect those used during the actual event. India has a rich culture of storytelling and we are committed to showcasing these stories and their authentic representation," it added.

The original hijacking involved five terrorists—Ibrahim Athar, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Zahoor Ibrahim, Shahid Akhter, and Sayed Shakir—who seized the IC-814 flight on 24 December 1999, during its journey from Kathmandu to Delhi.

The standoff lasted eight days, with 154 passengers and crew held hostage. It ended with the release of notorious terrorists Masood Azhar, Omar Sheikh, and Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar, who were escorted to Kandahar.