Amaravati: Black balloons were released into the flight path of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mi-17 helicopter moments after it took off from the Vijayawada International Airport (VIA) on Monday. The Prime Minister was heading for Bhimavaram.
While the Special Protection Group (SPG) took serious note of the incident considering it to be a major security breach, the State police denied the claim. According to the state police, one Congress worker was arrested in relation to the incident while three other workers of the party were arrested for trying to enter the airport with black balloons.
According to police, a group of Congress workers climbed an under-construction building in a village far away from the VIA at Gannavaram and released black balloons, ostensibly filled with hydrogen. The video clip released by Congress showed the balloons being released as the Mi-17s took off from Gannavaram and entered the flight path over the village.
The balloons were floating high in the air as the two choppers flew past but it could not be established whether they were anywhere close. Although, the Prime Minister's trip ended safely, the SPG has sought an explanation from the State police asking them what if they were drones and not just balloons.
Krishna district Superintendent of Police P Joshua told PTI that there was no security breach at the airport. "Two Congress workers released the balloons from a building under construction at Surampalli village, 4.5 km away from the airport. By the time they released the balloons, PM Modi's chopper had left the airport, Joshua added.
He, however, said three Congress workers, including the women's wing leader Sunkara Padmasri, were taken into custody as they tried to enter the airport carrying black balloons. The police burst the balloons, the SP said.
A case under various sections of IPC was registered against them. Also, one of the two persons who released the black balloons at Surampalli was also taken into custody while hunt was on for the other, Joshua said. (With Agency inputs)
