23 Hours of Terror, 90 Seconds of Heroism: NSG’s Swift Resolution at Ram Temple

NSG Hijack Flight IC-427 Rescue Operation: A Story of Bravery

In a dramatic 23-hour crisis that ended with a 90-second resolution, the National Security Guard (NSG) commandos executed Operation Ashvamedh, decisively neutralizing the terrorists who hijacked Flight IC-427. This bold action saved 141 lives and demonstrated the NSG’s formidable capabilities.

The Hijacking Incident

On April 24, 1993, Indian Airlines Flight IC-427, traveling from Srinagar to Delhi, was hijacked shortly after takeoff. A man brandishing a pistol and a hand grenade seized control, demanding to be flown to Kabul, Afghanistan. The flight captain immediately informed Delhi Air Traffic Control (ATC) at 2:43 pm about the hijacking.

Crisis Management and Coordination

Upon learning of the hijack, the Crisis Management Group (CMG) and the Central Committee mobilized quickly. The CMG managed the situation from the Central Secretariat, while the Central Committee monitored from Delhi Airport. With the plane still in Indian airspace, security agencies had an opportunity to act.

Diplomatic Negotiations

The Central Committee urged the CMG to coordinate with Pakistani authorities to prevent the plane from entering Pakistani airspace. Under pressure, Pakistan denied the hijacker’s request for airspace access. The plane circled Lahore until its fuel was nearly depleted, prompting the pilot to land at Amritsar airport with the hijacker’s consent.

Negotiation Efforts

At Amritsar airport, the Deputy Commissioner and Senior Superintendent of Amritsar were tasked with negotiation. Despite their efforts, the hijacker insisted on refueling the plane to continue to Kabul. As tensions rose, the Director General of Police (DGP) of Punjab also arrived on the scene.

Operation Ashvamedh: The Final Action

When negotiations proved futile, the CMG, with approval from Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, deployed a special team of NSG commandos to Amritsar. On April 25, 1993, the hijacker’s violent actions prompted the commandos to intervene. In a swift operation named Operation Ashvamedh, NSG commandos stormed the plane, neutralizing the hijacker in just 90 seconds and completing the mission within five minutes.

Aftermath and Investigation

The operation successfully rescued 135 passengers and six crew members. NSG recovered two pistols and a hand grenade from the hijacker, identified as Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Jalaluddin alias Mohammad Yunus Shah. The investigation revealed the hijacking was linked to demands for constructing a grand Ram temple at the Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.

Wider Implications

The hijacking highlighted ongoing threats from terrorist groups like Hizbul Mujahideen, who were incensed by demands related to the Ram Janmabhoomi temple. The swift action by NSG commandos in Operation Ashvamedh remains a testament to their bravery and effectiveness in counter-terrorism operations.