Makers Update Opening Disclaimer of ‘IC814: The Kandahar Hijack’ Amid Code Name Controversy

Now, the producers of the recently released controversial miniseries IC814: The Kandahar Hijack have revised the disclaimer running over the show following the outrage over the series' choice of code names of terrorists.

Monika Shergill, Vice President, Content, Netflix India, called on the Joint Secretary of the I&B Ministry on Tuesday to discuss contentious issues in the web series.

Monika said in a statement: "For the benefit of audiences who may not be conversant with the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814 in 1999, the opening disclaimer at the start of every episode has been modified to carry both the real and code names of the hijackers. The code names used in the series conform to those used during the actual event."

She added, "India has a rich culture of storytelling — and we are committed to showcasing these stories and their authentic representation ."

Beyond that opening disclaimer, Netflix is not forced into making any more edits to this series.

The streaming series was recently slammed on the social media over the alleged whitewashing of Pakistani intelligence agency, ISI, for humanising the cruel terrorists and over its misleading content.

Several users claimed that even the hijackers' religion was changed. One Internet user commented on X: "Kandahar flight hijackers' original names: Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar, Sunny Ahmed, Zahoor Mistry and Shakir. Anubhav Sinha hijacker web series IC 814 depicted Bhola, Shankar. This is how whitewashing is done cinematically."

The names the hijackers invariably addressed one another by, according to the report of the Ministry of External Affairs, dated January 2000, were Chief, Doctor, Burger, Bhola and Shankar.

The series directed by Anubhav Sinha is based on the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814. The flight was hijacked in mid-air while traveling from Kathmandu to Delhi by six terrorists-Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, Sunny, Ahmad Qazi, Zahoor Mistry, and Shakir of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen terrorist outfit-and held hostage over their demands for the release of Pakistani terrorists held in prison in India.