With the publication of a miniseries on Netflix, the 1999 hijacking of indian Airlines aircraft IC 814 has gained attention recently. The show has rekindled discussion on a variety of topics, including how the government and other agencies involved handled the incident.
 
When it came to decision-making, AS Dulat, the head of research and analysis wing (RAW) in 1999, acknowledged that there were "goof-ups" in an interview with india Today TV.
 
"We had a chance to make sure the jet didn't exit indian territory once it landed in Amritsar. But there was nothing left to do but strike a bargain once it departed Amritsar. With the greatest possible negotiators, we achieved the best possible agreement," Dulat remarked.

"A decision was not made. This is something I mentioned a long time ago, even before this occurred. In amritsar, something went wrong," he said.
 
On december 24, 1999, indian Airlines Flight IC 814, which was headed from Kathmandu to Delhi, was taken over by five terrorists as soon as it reached indian airspace. For fifty minutes, the aircraft touched down in amritsar to refuel. The punjab police and the central intelligence services were among the authorities who were unable to seize the initiative in spite of this.
 
"We ought to have answered a call—we were all there. It is unfair to place blame after so many years, therefore I won't do it. Like everyone else, I am equally at fault "exclaimed Dulat.
 
The former head of raw spoke about his lengthy conversation on the hijacking with Sarabjit Singh, the director General of police (DGP) for punjab at the time.
 
"After a lengthy conversation, the punjab DGP assured me that he was not KPS Gill and that he would not jeopardize his position. He said that Parkash Singh Badal, the Chief Minister, had informed him that he did not want violence in Amritsar. The same thing was being indicated even in Delhi. The DGP suggested they could storm the aircraft, but they had no idea how many people may be killed. Thus, he claimed, "nobody wanted to answer the phone in the name of carnage."
 
Dulat said that it was necessary to inform the punjab police that the aircraft shouldn't have left amritsar, even though it didn't.
 
It's interesting to note that DGP Sarabjit Singh had stated publicly that he would have made a decision had he received clear orders from Delhi.
 
Dulat stated, "I agree with him" on this. I'm not sure what he would have done, though. He was correct when he stated that he was awaiting orders from Delhi, which never materialized.
 
 
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G GOWTHAM

04/09/2024 08:15 AM