'I Won’t Be Watching... Those Flashbacks Again ...,' Kandahar Hijack Survivor Rakesh Kataria Opens Up on Netflix's IC 814 Series

IC 814 Kandahar Hijack Controversy: The controversy surrounding IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack on Netflix is getting more and more heated. Rakesh Kataria, a survivor of the 1999 hijacking in Kandahar, has now shared his story. In response to the outcry and criticism regarding the hijackers' depiction with names like "Shankar" and "Bhola," Kataria has offered his viewpoint, revealing the real events and the terrorists' nicknames. Rakesh has offered fresh perspectives on the experience, even though his wife Pooja Kataria voiced her opinions prior to him making the statement.

Kandahar Hijack Survivor Rakesh Kataria Breaks His Silence

Speaking to ANI, Rakesh Kataria recalled the terrifying moments when Flight IC 814 was hijacked. He said, "First we thought it was kind of a drill...but later we realised our plane was hijacked. 90% of the passengers were newlyweds...whatever decision the then govt took, they would have taken it in the interest of the country...I won't be watching the series...I recovered from it after a lot of struggle and if I watch the series, I will have those flashbacks again."

Kandahar Hijack Survivor Rakesh Kataria on Nicknames Used by Hijackers

Rakesh Kataria also weighed in on the controversy surrounding the names of the hijackers portrayed in the Netflix series. He confirmed that during the hijacking, the terrorists used nicknames such as ‘Shankar,’ ‘Bhola,’ and ‘Burger.’ While the real names of the hijackers might have been different, these were the code names they used to communicate.

Government Summons and Netflix’s Response

This new testimony comes after the Indian Government, through the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B), summoned Netflix’s Content Head Monika Shergill. The meeting was held in response to the growing backlash regarding the show’s portrayal of the terrorists. After discussions with government officials, Netflix updated the series' disclaimer to reflect both the real and code names of the hijackers, addressing concerns about the misrepresentation of the characters.

Controversy Around the Series

The Netflix series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack sparked a major controversy, with accusations of whitewashing terrorism by attributing Hindu names to the hijackers. Viewers took to social media, causing #BoycottNetflix to trend, expressing outrage over the portrayal.

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