A stampede occurred during former Chief Minister and YSRCP chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s tour in Nellore on Thursday. Jagan incited the activists from the moment they entered the city and called them from the convoy to come back, causing them to run. Even though the police were trying to stop them, Jagan kept shouting “Come, come” which led to a stampede.
Many people fell down as they pulled barricades on the road leading to the house of former MLA Nallapureddy Prasanna Kumar Reddy. Policemen were also dragged and thrown. In this case, YSRCP activists fell on Kavali Special Branch Constable Malakondaiah, causing him to be seriously injured. He is undergoing treatment in a private hospital with a broken arm.
Jaganmohan Reddy’s Nellore visit saw a stir among the party cadres. They violated police restrictions. Jagan, who reached Nellore by helicopter, went straight to the Central Jail and met former minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy. The police allowed only three people to enter the jail.
After the meeting with Kakani, he went to the house of former MLA Nallapureddy Prasanna Kumar Reddy. However, the police did not allow the activists and made the former MLA sit at the Nellore R&B guest house. This led to a scuffle between the police and the YSRCP cadres, who dispersed the activists with batons.
As the YSRCP cadres gathered in large numbers at Prasanna’s residence, a tense atmosphere prevailed. Despite police restrictions on Jagan’s visit, people gathered in violation of the rules. A large crowd gathered near Vedayapalem, the current office center, and the government hospital.
The police have become more alert in the wake of YSRCP cadres defying the restrictions during their visits to Rentapalla in Palnadu district, Podili in Prakasam district, Rapthadu in Anantapur district, and Bangarupalyam in Chittoor district.
In-charge SP Damodar granted permission for Jagan’s visit with restrictions. He made it clear that under no circumstances should more than 10 people be allowed at the helipad, three at the meeting near the jail, and more than 100 people at the house of Nallapareddy Prasannakumar Reddy.
However, the YSRCP leaders made a concerted effort to move the activists in large numbers. The police conducted checks at various places and stopped the activists. Action was taken against those violating the rules.