IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack was released on Netflix on August 29, 2024, and ever since then people of India have been querying about real-life people who were handling the case. Directed by Anubhav Sinha, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is a true story based on the 1999 hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight from Kathmandu (Nepal) to New Delhi by five terrorists. IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is 6 episodes limited series that features Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Vijay Varma, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, Arvind Swamy, Dia Mirza, Amrita Puri, Patralekha and more in the leading roles. Since you have landed on this page, True Scoop assumes that you have already watched the series on Netflix and wondering about IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack True Story and who was then Punjab Chief Minister who did not give a go-ahead to the Police to conduct a rescue operation? Below is all about IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack Punjab CM details-
Who was Punjab CM during the Kandahar Hijack?
The answer is Prakash Singh Badal. Netflix's IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack showcased R&AW Head VK Agarwal called Punjab DGP Prabhjot and requested him to conduct a rescue operation and neutralise the five terrorists who hijacked the IC 814 Indian Airlines Flight. Notably, the Indian Airlines Flight had to land at Amritsar Airport for refueling, and from there the Pakistani hijackers compelled the pilot to take the flight to Kabul. During that period Afghanistan was ruled by the Taliban. Notably, when the central agency sought the help of Punjab DGP he stated that his commandos are ready to carry out an operation. However, the Punjab DGP said that he first has to keep the Chief Minister in the loop and get his authorization. However, after waiting for almost 40 minutes, the DGP informed R&AW that the CM had denied the permission to conduct a rescue operation at Amritsar Airport saying that there would be no bloodshed in Punjab.
Notably, the hijack incident took place in 1999. During that period, the BJP and SAD were ruling Punjab under the coalition government. Late SAD leader Parkash Singh Badal was Chief Minister of the state that time. Interestingly, at the center, there was also the BJP government with Atal Bihari Vajpayee serving as the PM of India. Still, Punjab CM Badal did not give a go-ahead to the Punjab Police to carry out the operation.
Then Punjab DGP, now a retired officer, Sarabjeet Singh while talking to a news portal said, "We had considered blowing off the tires of the aircraft and even sent a fuel bowser with two IAF personnel in disguise to do this. But then it was certain that the hijackers would resort to killing the passengers in case anything of this sort was done…I could not speak to CM Parkash Singh Badal directly but a message was conveyed to me from him that nothing should be done to cause bloodshed."