The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is contemplating sending Janipalli Srinivasa Rao, prime accused in the recent attack on YSR Congress president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, to undergo tests by experts to assess his emotional and mental abilities.
The police team has been joining the dots and it is learnt that the inconsistent behaviour of the accused may be the reason for a psychoanalysis.
In the last page of his 11-page letter, which the accused has written with the help of two friends, he mentioned that he might be killed by the gunmen of Mr. Jagan after or during the attack, and in such instance, his letter be made public through the media.
“This has made us focus on his mental condition, as there is no clarity of motive in his statements or in the letter. Was it a suicide mission or just a publicity stunt, there are many loose ends and we are trying to join them together,” said a police officer.
It is learnt that the accused was fully aware of Mr. Jagan’s movement and had earlier attempted three to four times to get close to him. “Ever since Mr. Jagan has been on his padayatra in the coastal districts, he leaves for Hyderabad every Thursday evening to attend to his CBI case on Friday. And the accused had observed this and made three or four attempts earlier,” said the officer.
On how he smuggled the sharp edged weapon inside the airport, another officer pointed out that it was not a very difficult task.
“Every employee is given a pass and no one is frisked at the entry point. The frisking and baggage scanning take place only at the security check area. It was a small three-inch blade used in rooster fights and he could have smuggled it in his purse or while taking supplies to the coffee shop inside the airport where he works,” said the officer.
Remand report
The remand report filed by the Airport Police before the VII Additional Metropolitan Magistrate Court on the attack debunks the ‘popularity’ theory and says the attacker had planned to take the life of the victim.
The report filed by Airport police station Inspector Malla Seshu said the accused had attacked Mr. Jagan to eliminate him and not to gain popularity as claimed by some police officers and the TDP leaders.
As per the report, the blade was aimed at Mr. Jagan’s neck but slashed through his left arm below the shoulder due to a last minute deflection by Mr. Jagan. If the attacker had got his mark right, the injury would have taken place around the neck resulting in a fatal wound. The remand report said protocol Inspector Vasudev was at the scene.
While Mr. Jagan was talking to his party men, Ramadevi, a service assistant of the Fusion Food Restaurant, came to the lounge to serve tea. The accused came along with her to serve water bottles and remained in the lounge, standing next to Mr. Jagan. As per the report, when senior YSR leader Karanam Dharmasri was taking a selfie with Mr. Jagan, the accused who was standing on the left side of Mr. Jagan tried to stab him on the neck with the blade hidden in his pocket.
Noticing the attack, Mr. Jagan feinted to his right in a fraction of a second and as a result, the attack landed on his left arm.
Inspector Vasudev and party leaders overpowered the attacker and recovered the blade.
Reacting to the remand letter, YSR Congress leaders pointed out that the attack was a well-planned one, as the attacker reportedly carried two such blades or knives and three copies of his 11-page letter.
