It appears that the Andhra Pradesh government has taken serious note of the YSR Congress Party’s allegations regarding the lack of adequate security at the helipad in Papireddypalli, Ramagiri mandal, Sri Satya Sai district, on April 8.
The alleged security lapse led to damage to a helicopter and forced party president Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to return to Bengaluru by road.
Acting on government directives, district police authorities have issued summons to the pilot and co-pilot of the helicopter used during Jagan Mohan Reddy’s visit to the village.
He was there to offer condolences to the family of Lingamayya, a YSRCP worker who was murdered.
According to reports, the helipad — arranged by YSRCP cadres — was overrun by enthusiastic party workers who broke through the barricades, due to insufficient police security. Amid the commotion, the windshield of the helicopter was reportedly damaged.
YSRCP leaders alleged that the incident resulted from lapses in both government and police security. They stated that Jagan had to travel by road because the helicopter was deemed unsafe.
To investigate further, police issued notices to the helicopter maintenance agency based in Jakkur, Karnataka, summoning the pilot and co-pilot to appear at the Chennekothapalli police station on Wednesday.
Interestingly, police sources noted that the helicopter did not return to Jakkur, and neither the pilot nor the co-pilot informed higher authorities about the windshield damage.
Police officials also questioned the decision-making of the crew, asking, “If the helicopter was too risky for Jagan, how was it safe for the pilot and co-pilot to fly it back?”