YSR Congress Party president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy sustained an injury when a waiter at a restaurant stabbed him with a knife at the Visakhapatnam airport on Thursday.
Mr. Jagan, who is touring Vizianagaram district as part of his Praja Sankalpa Yatra, was at the airport enroute to Hyderabad for a court appearance.
The waiter, identified as J. Srinivasa Rao, brought him a cup of tea. On the pretext of seeking a selfie with Mr. Jagan, Rao stabbed him on his shoulder with a knife used in cock-fights. He was instantly overpowered and handed over to the police.
ADVERTISEMENT
SIT to probe attack
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate the attack on YSRC leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy at Visakhapatnam airport on Thursday, Additional DCP Mahendra Praturdu told the media.
Mr Jagan Reddy was attacked in airport’s VIP lounge with a knife by J. Srinivasa Rao, a waiter at an airport restaurant, on the pretext of taking a selfie.
ADVERTISEMENT
Preliminary investigation revealed that Rao, hailing from East Godavari district, was an admirer of Mr. Jagan Reddy, and had committed the act for publicity. An attempt to murder case was registered against him, said ACP (West Zone) L. Arjun. “There was a 10-page letter in the pocket of the accused which is in the possession of the CISF. We can comment only after seeing the content,” said the police.
Mr Jagan Reddy who boarded his scheduled flight to Hyderabad after first aid, underwent surgery for the wound at a private hospital in the city on Thursday afternoon. Doctors said his condition was stable and recommended that he be kept under observation for at least 24 hours.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu condemned the attack on Mr. Jagan Reddy and said the government would not tolerate such attacks. Asserting that the government had nothing to do with the attack, Mr Naidu said, “At the same time, the government will not keep quiet if anyone tries to create law and order problem taking shelter under the incident.”