Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who had to resign after widespread protest against her, fled Dhaka for India in a C130J military transport aircraft of Bangladesh Air Force that touched down at Hindon in Ghaziabad on Monday evening.
Her journey from Dhaka, as sensitive as it was, was monitored by Indian security agencies which was prepared for any contingency.
Sources told ANI that the IAF radars detected a low-level flying aircraft around 3 pm coming towards India. The aircraft was permitted to fly inside India as the air defence personnel knew who was inside the plane.
Considering the threat to her life, the aircraft was constantly monitored by security agencies. Two Rafale fighter aircraft from the 101 squadron from Hashimara air base in West Bengal were airborne over Bihar and Jharkhand as Hasina's aircraft moved towards the Hindon airbase. Indian security agencies were also actively communicating with C130J pilots and Bangladesh officials responsible for her security.
The Indian Air Force and Army chiefs Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari and Gen Upendra Dwivedi were monitoring the situation very closely, sources told ANI.
On Hasina's jet landing at Hindan air base around 5:45 pm, she was greeted by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval who held an hour-long meeting with her. Doval later left the airbase to brief a Cabinet Committee of Security meeting led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
As for Sheikh Hasina, it is expected that the former five-time prime minister will travel to London, potentially seeking asylum in the UK. Hasina's niece, Tulip Siddiq, is an MP in the House of Commons, the parliament of the UK, while her sister, Sheikh Rehana, is a British citizen.
UK Awami League leader Jamal Ahmed Khan, who is close to Sheikh Rehana's family, told Bangla Tribune that a decision will be taken after a few days about where Hasina will go from India. But it is certain that she is not coming to London for now, he added.
Her son Sajeeb Wajed Joy told NDTV that though Hasina did not want to leave, she had to as it was not safe for her.
Her transport plane will remain parked near Indian Air Force's C-17 and C-130J Super Hercules aircraft hangars. The former Prime Minister is currently in a safe house.
