YSR Congress chief Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy suffered a shoulder injury after being stabbed at the Visakhapatnam Airport on Thursday. Reddy was attacked by an airport canteen worker who approached him to take a selfie.
Reddy, who was to board a flight to Hyderabad, was at the VIP lounge outside the airport's check-in gate when he was approached by the canteen worker, identified as Srinivas, a native of Amalapuram. After taking the selfie, the assailant attacked Reddy with a knife used in cockfights. Srinivas was immediately taken into custody by security personnel.
Another video of the attacker, Srinivas, being whisked away by the security officials immediately after the attack at #vizag airport. #YSJagan is seen walking out, composed and smiling. #Jaganattack #JaganMohanReddy #AndhraPradesh #YSRCP pic.twitter.com/nnRqJpTwQK
— Rahul Devulapalli (@rahulscribe) October 25, 2018
Reddy, who received first aid after the attack, boarded a flight to Hyderabad. This was the first such attack on Reddy, who has emerged as the main opposition rival to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in recent years. Following news of the incident, a large number of YSR Congress workers arrived at the Hyderabad Airport to receive Reddy.
Soon after the incident, the YSR Congress alleged there was a conspiracy behind the attack on Reddy. The Twitter handle of the YSR Congress blamed the TDP government for failing to provide security for Reddy. Speaking to various media agencies, YSR Congress leaders highlighted the fact that Srinivas worked at an airport canteen run by TDP leader Harsha Vardhan. YSR Congress leaders even alluded to the possibility of the knife used against Reddy being smeared with poison as is common in cockfights.
Andhra Pradesh DGP R.P. Thakur said Srinivas had an eight-page letter with him. Thakur declared the police were investigating the attack on Reddy. Meanwhile, CISF Director-General C.V. Anand claimed as the attack on Reddy happened outside the check-in gate, the incident was not within the agency's jurisdiction and was not its failure.
Shocked by attack on Mr Jagan Reddy,Asked all agencies to investigate matter thoroughly,including @CISFHQrs .Asked secretary civil aviation to fix responsibility.I strongly condemn this cowardly attack,we will punish the guilty.Investigations are underway, started immediately
— Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) October 25, 2018
Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu expressed shock at the attack on Reddy and announced investigations into the incident at Visakhapatnam Airport had already begun.
(With inputs from Rahul Devulapalli)
