The 22 years old story (December 24 to 31,1999) and Bihar connection of airports’ security to CISF
Law Kumar Mishra
On December 24,1999, Indian Airlines flight IC 814 with 176 passengers and crew members took off from Kathmandu with some honeymoon couples on board. Five armed terrorists hijacked it and the plane landed at Amritsar for “refueling,” where 26 passengers including two wounded were de-boarded.
It took off for Lahore and Dubai but finally landed in the then Taliban-ruled Kandhar. Now, the plane is a scrap!
There was a family of forest officer from Bhopal (from where I was sent to Srinagar), who had gone to Kathmandu for Christmas celebrations. I was doing my naukari in the Times of India at Srinagar. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had declared, “we will not bend before the terrorists”. George Fernandes, as Defence Minister had successfully led to victory in Kargil war six months ago, was kept out of the negotiations.
A S Dulat of RAW had landed in Srinagar, Governor and Chief Minister were present. Farooq Abdullah was dead against swapping of three terrorists, Maulana Masood Azahar, Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar and Omar Sheikh for safe release of hostages. But, Dulat was firm. I was told by my editor from New Delhi that Brajesh Mishra has conveyed to him that the centre wouldn’t release the terrorists. I told him, “They have already been freed from Jammu and Srinagar jails, taken to the capital in an IAF plane, please send someone to track them”.
I reported from Srinagar with quotes of all present in the Srinagar meeting and TOI was the only paper to report out of press releases or briefings. I give full credit for verbatim minutes’ report to an officer present in the meeting. He is still active, but not in Srinagar.
The fall out of plane hijacking was handing over of airport security to the CISF, first as pilot project at Jaipur, Patna, Calcutta, Delhi and Bangalore airports from February 1, 2000. Credit must go to the then Civil Aviation Minister, Sharad Yadav who found CISF most suitable for airport security. He had a positive experience of competence of CISF in Bihar elections a year back.
Kishore Kunal, the Gujarat cadre IPS officer, who was additional DG of CISF recalled, “Minister said there is no better force than CISF which deserved praise for free and fair election, prevention of booth capturing”. He agreed to the suggestion of then DG of CISF, Trinath Mishra who recommended induction of CISF as airport security force. Till then district armed police guarded the airports.
In his latest autobiographical book, Kishore Kunal said like Mishra he was also a student of Patna College, both were senior prefects in Jackson hostel, both had occupied the same hostel room during their student’s days and incidentally SP was superscribed on the room entrance door.
(The author is a senior journalist)
