IC 814 Hijack: RAW Officer’s Hidden Role

The IC 814 hijacking incident remains one of India’s most infamous aviation crises. However, not everyone knows that a senior officer of India’s intelligence agency, RAW, was caught in the ordeal. Shashi Bhushan Singh Tomar, the then RAW station head in Kathmandu, was on board the ill-fated flight, seated at 16C. His presence was kept secret to protect him from potential execution by the hijackers.

Tomar was returning to Delhi to visit his hospitalized wife. His identity was carefully concealed by the Indian authorities, fearing his exposure would lead to severe repercussions. Tomar’s presence was confirmed years later by AS Dulat, the then chief of RAW, who revealed that Tomar was unaware of the impending hijack. This crucial lapse marked a significant moment in India’s intelligence history.

A junior RAW operative had warned Tomar about a possible hijacking, which Tomar dismissed. This costly oversight was never reported to RAW headquarters, leaving the flight vulnerable. Had the hijackers known Tomar’s identity, he could have been targeted instead of Rupin Katyal, who tragically lost his life during the hijack.

Despite the grave error, Tomar faced no reprimand and was instead awarded a foreign assignment. His connections to influential figures in the government likely shielded him from accountability. His story, largely hidden for years, underscores the complex interplay of intelligence failures, bureaucratic protection, and personal survival in a moment of national crisis.

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