Former punjab police Chief Defends Decision During IC 814 Hijacking Crisis

Sarabjit Singh, the former director General of police (DGP) in punjab, has recently shed light on the critical decisions made during the 1999 hijacking of indian Airlines Flight IC 814, which became a focal point of the Netflix series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack. Singh, who was in chandigarh during the crisis, was in direct communication with key officials as the hijacked plane landed in amritsar before continuing its journey to Kandahar.

Context of the Hijacking

Flight IC 814, which had been hijacked while en route from Kathmandu, made an unscheduled stop at Amritsar's airport. The plane was on the ground in amritsar for approximately 45 minutes before it took off again, heading towards Kandahar. The decision to let the plane depart from amritsar has been widely criticized, as it then entered hostile territory in Afghanistan, where it remained for several days while indian officials engaged in negotiations to free the hostages.

Sarabjit Singh’s Account

In an interview with The Tribune, Sarabjit Singh recounted his immediate reaction upon learning of the hijacking through the news. Despite being based in chandigarh, he acted swiftly by deploying two commando units to amritsar Airport. Singh maintained regular contact with Intelligence Bureau (IB) Chief Shyamal Dutta and former research and analysis wing (R&AW) chief AS Dulat throughout the crisis.

When the plane landed in amritsar, Singh’s primary concern was to prevent it from being refueled, which would have enabled it to continue its journey. He explained that his strategy was to delay the refueling until the National Security Guard (NSG) arrived. Singh noted, “My first reaction, when I was told that the plane had landed in amritsar, before I could talk to delhi, was, ‘Don’t refuel’. Devi sharan was stressing, ‘Please give us fuel, please give us fuel’.”

Singh was surprised when Captain Devi Sharan, despite having only about nine minutes of fuel left, decided to take off. The plane then refueled in Lahore before proceeding to dubai and finally to Kandahar. Singh praised Captain sharan for his courage and composure, stating, “I would give full marks to Devi sharan for courage and coolness. He pretended to be scared, but I could see that the man was in full control of what he was trying to do.”

Challenges and Criticism

Singh faced criticism for the decision to let the plane leave Amritsar. He explained that the situation was complicated by the lack of specific hijacking equipment and the potential risk of casualties if a rescue attempt was made. “I had warned the people in delhi that I have people waiting on the ground, but if we take action, there would be shooting, and people will die,” Singh said. He added that according to protocol, the central Counter Hijacking Management Group (CMG) was responsible for handling hijacks, and he was instructed not to use force. “I told Shyamal, ‘If you’re ready, I’ll start,’ but he said, ‘Don’t. Disable the plane, but don’t move in with your chaps.’ I told him, ‘Goli chalegi toh log marenge,’ and he said, ‘Goli mat chalao’.”

Cultural Impact

The saga of the IC 814 hijacking has been revisited in IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, a Netflix series that dramatizes the events. This series has rekindled interest in the incident, prompting the indian officials involved in the crisis to reflect on their experiences and decisions.

The hijacking of IC 814 remains a significant event in India's defense history, and the discussions around it continue to evoke strong reactions and insights into the complex dynamics of handling such crises.