New Delhi: Black balloons released in the sky after Monday (July 4) Prime Minister Narendra ModiThe helicopter took off from Vijayawada International Airport during its visit to Andhra Pradesh, ANI reported. An unverified video of the same was also released on the news agency’s Twitter handle.
#watch , A Congress worker released black balloons moments after PM Modi’s helicopter took off during his visit to Andhra Pradesh.
(source: unverified) pic.twitter.com/ZYRlAyUcZK— ANI (@ANI) 4 July 2022
Krishna district’s SP Siddharth Kaushal said that three Congress protesters have been detained for releasing black balloons after PM Modi’s helicopter took off. The incident took place around the Gannavaram airport where a security cordon was also put in place.
PM Modi took a flight to Bhimavaram from Vijayawada International Airport (VIA) on Monday. While the Special Protection Group (SPG) termed it as a security breach, the state police denied such reports. However, he said that a Congress worker has been detained in this case. Three other party workers were arrested for trying to enter the airport.
Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee called for organizing protests during PM’s visit to the state on Monday to unveil a statue of freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju to protest ‘broken promises’, including special status to Andhra Pradesh .
Some Congress workers climbed a building under construction in a village in Gannavaram, not far from VIA, and released black balloons, apparently filled with hydrogen. A video clip released by the Congress showed balloons being released as the MI-17 took off from Gannavaram and entering the flight path over the village. The balloons were floating high in the air as the two helicopters took off, but it could not be established whether they were anywhere near.
The Prime Minister’s visit ended without incident, bringing relief to everyone, but the SPG in charge of his security is said to have taken it seriously and sought an explanation from the state.
The SPG apparently asked the state police if they were drones and not just balloons.
There was no lapse in security at the airport, Krishna district superintendent of police P Joshua told PTI. “Two Congress workers released balloons from an under-construction building in Surampally village, 4.5 km from the airport. By the time they released the balloons, PM Modi’s helicopter had left the airport,” Joshua said.
(with PTI inputs)
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