JAMMU, JANUARY 3: Moulana Azhar Masood and Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar alias Latrum, who were released in exchange of the hostages, remained mum throughout during their journey from Jammu to Kandahar.They were blindfolded and evidently did not know about each other as they were made to sit on different seats at the back of the aircraft which was also shared by the External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, who sat in the Club class.In the smaller aircraft in which they were taken from Jammu to Delhi, the two militants were made to sit in separate cabins and kept blind-folded throughout their journey. While Moulana did not ask any questions, Latrum inquired before boarding the aircraft here about his destination.It was at about 11:30 a.m., that Moulana was huddled into the Gypsy and taken to the airport, where handcuffed Zargar, face covered, sporting grey cardigan and denim pants was waiting.The authorities did not want to take any chances. They made both Zargar and Moulana to sit in different cabins of the aircraft with one constable each sitting on their sides. While a senior officer was sitting in the next cabin keeping watch on both of them.According to sources at airport, Moulana had some luggage while the other militant to be released was empty handed. Latrum was carrying only a polythene bag with a pant and a shirt.As soon as Moulana Azhar Masood, a pan Islamic ideologue belonging to the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen outfit, got sure about his release from the Kot Bhalwal jail here, he started dictating terms to the authorities. According to the jail authorities, Moulana who remained calm throughout the hijacking episode, suddenly became assertive, the moment he was brought out of the cell.As the jail authorities were trying to handcuff Moulana from behind, he objected saying - Mujhe khaansi hoti hai, agar haath bandh hi karney hain to aagey se kariye (I am an asthmatic patient. So if you have to tie my hands better do it from front). He even did not allow them to cover his face fully, only making them blindfold him.Jail authorities initially got perturbed with his behaviour, but the senior police officials asked them to allow things to happen as he was instructing.Reason: Police officials, who had come to take Moulana from jail, did not want to waste any more time as they had already been delayed in the process because of late arrival of Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar alias Latrum, one time chief of Al Umar outfit from Srinagar Central Jail.Zargar, who was shifted via road was to be airlifted in a special chopper from Udhampur, following the instructions from authorities, who feared that hijackers might reconsider their decision and in the process increase their demands.During the Delhi-Kandahar flight, the three terrorists were made to sit on different seats of the plane with one NSG commando sitting on each side while the other four kept surrounding them throughout the journey that took two hours from Indira Gandhi International Airport to Kandahar Airport.The moment plane arrived at Kandahar Airport, a black Nissan car arrived close to the aircraft. At this the NSG men took the three militants to the vehicle. Later, the minister and the three militants sat in the same car and moved towards the site where they were handed over to the hijackers in exchange for the passengers on-board.After one hour, Jaswant Singh along with a crew of 40 officials including medical staff came and boarded the same plane that had carried the militants.
