The series IC184: The Kandahar Hijack, starring Vijay Varma, brings to light one of the most notorious incidents in India’s defense history—the hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC814 in 1999. The show has captured the nation’s attention, and as a result, those who were involved in the real-life negotiations are coming forward to share their experiences. Recently, AS Dulat, who was the chief of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) at the time, spoke about a secretive "ghost passenger" whose identity was hidden during the crisis. This high-profile passenger could have given the terrorists an advantage had his identity been revealed.
In an interview with journalist Barkha Dutt, Dulat disclosed that the “ghost passenger” was none other than Shashi Bhushan Singh Tomar, the R&AW station chief in Kathmandu, seated in row 16C. Tomar’s family connections made his presence even more sensitive—one of his brothers-in-law, NK Singh, worked in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), and another was the head of the National Security Guard (NSG). According to Dulat, while NK Singh was understandably worried about Tomar’s safety, very few in the government knew about his presence on the flight. In fact, Dulat himself kept Tomar’s identity secret, even when the plane was grounded in Amritsar. He believed there was no reason to disclose it, as revealing Tomar’s presence could have put his life in danger.
Dulat emphasized that neither the Taliban nor Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI, were aware of Tomar’s identity. If they had known, Tomar’s life would have been in grave jeopardy—he could have been used as a bargaining chip, tortured, or even executed. Dulat also shared that after Tomar safely returned to Delhi, they had a conversation where Tomar explained how he survived the ordeal by keeping a low profile, not engaging with the hijackers, and avoiding eye contact.
The show, however, has sparked some controversy for its dramatization. Dulat criticized the series for inaccurately depicting events, such as showing a junior officer warning the government about the hijacking beforehand. Dulat firmly denied that any such intelligence was available before the incident, calling it "hogwash." He also disputed scenes in which Indian agents are shown mistreating Nepalese officials, clarifying that such actions were never part of their conduct.
In this candid recollection, Dulat highlighted the delicate balance of secrecy and caution that shaped the Indian response to the hijacking. The revelation of Tomar’s presence adds a new layer of complexity to the story of the Kandahar hijacking, showing how a single life was quietly shielded from the volatile situation to avoid further catastrophe.
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