In what appears to be a case of a major security breach, YSRCP President and Leader of Opposition in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly YS Jagan was attacked at the Visakhapatnam airport on Wednesday.
The YSRCP leader is said to have suffered a minor injury in the attack on his left arm. The accused is reported to have used a sharp weapon, generally used in cockfights in the state. He was caught by security personnel at the airport and handed over to the police.
According to media reports, the accused has been identified as Srinivas Rao, who was said to be working as a waiter in the airport. Speaking to TNM, the Airport Inspector confirmed that the accused had been identified but could not provide further details as he was busy with the case.
Jagan was said to be waiting in the lounge when the accused in the case offered him tea and asked him for a selfie, before attacking him. The YSRCP leader was on his way to Hyderabad and received first aid at the Visakhapatnam airport itself.
Taking to Twitter, the YSRCP said, "The attack seems to be a planned one. The state government's failure in providing security to the Leader of Opposition is evident."
Opposition leader Jaganmohan Reddy was attacked at Visakhapatnam airport today. The attacker has been identified as a worker at the airport. He approached Reddy asking him for a selfie & attacked him. He has been taken into custody&inquiry is underway: AP Home Minister NC Rajappa pic.twitter.com/obzg8xICBD
— ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2018
Shocked by attack on Jagan Reddy. Asked all agencies to investigate matter thoroughly,including CISF. Asked secretary civil aviation to fix responsibility. I strongly condemn this cowardly attack,we'll punish the guilty. Investigation underway, tweets Civil Aviation Min S Prabhu pic.twitter.com/NoMB0sfzGR
— ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2018
Further details are awaited.
I strongly condemn the cowardly attack on @ysjagan this is a major security lapse which must be probed @sureshpprabhu how can a person bring a dagger inside the airport,and in a lounge ,politicians are vulnerable with this NEW phenomenon of selfies
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) October 25, 2018
Jagan is presently on a statewide walkathon or 'padayatra', which he began in November last year, virtually kicking off his campaign for the 2019 Assembly elections. He said that he would cover 3,000 km across all 13 districts of the state to interact with the people and know their problems.
The Leader of Opposition in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly began the foot march after paying tributes at the grave of his father and late Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy at Idupulapaya in YSR Kadapa district.
Jagan hopes to recreate the magic of his late father YSR, who had launched a similar padayatra to end the nearly decade-long rule of Chandrababu Naidu in undivided Andhra Pradesh in 2004.
With IANS inputs