The hijacking of the IA flight IC 436 at Lucknow Airport...Part 2

   In my last post I had written about my adventure in the sky. Indian Airlines flight IC 436 was hijacked by 4 Arts college students of Lucknow, with 59 passenger on board. The student hijackers demands were postponement of exams, grants of more funds to their college, investigation of corruption charge against the Principal of the college & introduction of PG courses. All the passengers were in the grip of extreme fear except for the army personnel who were tipsy & off duty.Due to the inebriated condition one of the defense guy would get up every now & than to catch hold of the hijackers.But the fellow passengers would push him back to his seat.

The hijacked flight (Illustration purpose only)

 Suddenly the plane started to loose height which created a panic in the aircraft.I thought the dooms day had arrived. Calm prevailed only after the plane stabilized followed by the voice of the Captain. " Ladies & Gentlemen! the plane lost height due to the air pocket, nothing to worry. Hon'ble Governor of UP has agreed to meet the students as per their demand and we have been given clearance to land at the Amausi airport, Lucknow. Amid fervent prayers the plane finally landed.

 Calm prevailed only when the plane stabilized.....

 When I looked outside it was a scene straight from a James Bond movie ,gun toting policemen, red & blue siren lights on the vehicle surrounding the plane.Everyone was waiting nervously, with bated breath for the doors to be opened. Nobody on board realized that due to the hijacked protocol the plane was not allowed to taxi towards the terminal building and was parked far from the main parking bay.

Fire Engines approaching the hijacked aircraft

 
   I forgot to mention that due to my media profession I managed to grab the attention of 2 students hijackers during the hold up. So after the plane had touched down I requested them to allow me to go the  wash room, as I thought it was the safest place in case of crossfire . After consultation with his colleague one of the student hijackers accompanied me to the toilet which was at the front side of the aircraft. I don't remember how long I was in the toilet until I heard a knock. I realized that holding myself inside would be an exercise in futile. I came out.

                                              

Security forces aiming at the aircraft

  As I was returning to my seat things began to happen very fast. The next moment I was on the floor with the hijacker on my back and the army guy on top of him. The small tin box (Pan Masala) fell out of the hijacker's hand as he started screaming "plane ko uda do koi bachne na pai (blow the plane. Kill them all). But it was over for the hijackers as the tin box was empty. It had no  RDX. They fooled every one for nearly 4 hours. The hijackers had manage to hijack the plane for ransom on a hoax.

The wash room

  The over hijackers over powered by the passengers were picked up by the police & we all returned back to the main airport building after some comic moments when the passengers were jumping from the wings of the plane and landing on the ground in the most awkward position

.

The relieved passengers after the ordeal

 Later on the flight IC 436 was once again rescheduled for departure. at night. But I avoided like a plague and took the night train to Delhi.

The making of the film RHINO- Part 1

The Book Kaziranga Trail..

The year was around 1987. Mr Amol Palekar had taken over as the Chairman of Children's film Society, India (CFSI).  Mr Gulzar along with TS Narsimanh (of Malgudi Days fame) were the executive council members in Mr Paleker's team.The new chairman like his predecessors was in   a hurry to ensure that some good children's film were produced  during his tenure.

Gulzar

Amol Palekar

    As luck  would have it, CFSI already had the rights of the book Kaziranga Trail, written by Aroop Kumar Datta & published by Children book Trust . The book was a work of fiction, a thrilling jungle adventure about the one horned Rhino, found in the Kaziranga National Park, Assam. Mr Palekar wanted to start work on the project at the earliest. He chose his Chief assistant Mr Shashank Shankar (son of famous choreographer Mr Sachin shankar) to direct the film.
                                                Accordingly Shashank & myself embarked on the location hunting work & left for Guwahati from Mumbai                       .

Shashank Shankar, Bhrigu Phukkan (Ex Home minister,Assam), MukeshSharma

  At that time the ruling party  in Assam was  Assam Gana Parishad or AGP headed by Prafulla Kumar Mahanta ,as the CM. The home minister was  Bhrigu Phukkan , who  met us and assured us of all possible help, while we produce the film in Assam.

Manas Wild life sanctuary .......famous for Tigers

                   The film Rhino was to be shot in the Kaziranga  National Park. How ever Shashank was keen to visit Manas (famous for Tigers) wild life sanctuary too.  He felt that a combination of both the locales will do justice to the film. So early one morning we set out for the Manas sanctuary on elephant back.The mahout in front followed by Shshank and myself . The weather was pleasent and we could hear the sounds of peacock, monkeys and birds. We were now  a little deeper into the forest. Suddenly there was complete silence. It was a bit weired. Shashank asked the Mahout "Ye achanak janwaron ki awwazen kyun band ho gayin''? the mahout said "kuch ghabarane ki baat nahi   sahab, Sher Ver hoga."   I retorted "Sher hoga matlab? Ye to phansnewali baat  hai". The mahout was more then relaxed. He made us comfortable. He told us  we are safe, as we are perched high up on the elephant .

Perched safe on elephant's back

 Just as we were adjusting to the new environment, I felt a weight loss in my hip pocket. I had dropped my wallet. It had every thing , our air tickets, monies , Identity card etc. When I told Shashank about it , he was completely foxed. But again our mahout consoled us. "Koi baat nahi shaab, mil jayega. Idhar  kidhar hi gira hoga. Hum log haathi se utarkar dhoonege." Without batting an eyelid Shashank said, "Matlab haathi se utarkar seedhey, Sher ke mooh mein jaayen". But the reassuring approach of the mahout and the lure of finding the wallet, compelled us to get down from the elephant and search for the wallet.

Searching for the wallet

 As we were walking, we heard a sound of rumbling near the shrubs. We looked at the mahout ,"Darne ki koi baat nahi shaab, tiger hai, ye lijiye Sab ka saathi". and he gave a small bamboo stick in our hands. Shashank looked at me as if to ask, if we can shoo away the tiger with this stick. It was like akaash se gire aur khajoor mei atke. I was not sure whether to continue with our search or just abandon it.  And Suddenly all hell broke loose...

THIS IS A GOOD SITUATION TO  GIVE  THE STORY A BREAK
NEXT POST WILL REVEAL IT ALL
TILL THEN..   THE RHINO  SUSPENSE CONTINUES..