Documentary on historic plane hijack screened

Kathmandu - A political and historical documentary titled 'hijacking for democracy' has been screened here at Nepal Tourism Board Hall today.

The documentary is based on the incident of hijacking by the Nepali Congress of a plane carrying cash of Nepal Rastra Bank. The Nepali Congress at that time was revolting against the Panchayat polity for the restoration of democracy and it hijacked the plane to fund the cash-strapped party to continue the revolt.

Journalist Jagat Nepal has directed the documentary. Former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala was the mastermind of the hijacking.

The 1973 Plane hijack aka Biratnagar Plane Hijack was the first such hijacking in the history of Nepal. It was stated that the main purpose of the hijacking was to gather funds for an armed revolution for the restoration of multi party democracy in the country.

The 19-seater then Royal Nepal Airlines Twin Otter passenger aircraft bound for Kathmandu from Biratnagar was hijacked to Farbisganj, Bihar in a grass field. The three million Indian rupees the plane was carrying was captured by the hijackers of the Nepali Congress. The money belonged to the Nepal Government.

The other hijackers who boarded the plane were Basant Bhattarai, Durga Subedi, and Nagendra Prasad Dhungel.

After screening the documentary, NC senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel shared that the party was forced to hijack the plane to run the party. He further suggested making a feature film on this issue.

NC leader Gagan Thapa also shared that the documentary has shown the NC's contribution in establishing the democracy in the country.