PM Modi security breach! Congress workers release balloons after PM's chopper takes off; in custody

PM Modi security scare: According to SP Siddharth Kaushal of Krishna district, three Congress workers were taken into custody for releasing black balloons after PM Modi's chopper took off.

Pic Credit: ANI, File Photo

New Delhi: Black balloons were released in the sky, on Monday (July 4) after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's chopper took off from Vijayawada International Airport during his visit to Andhra Pradesh as per an ANI report. 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 chopper took off, during his visit to Andhra Pradesh.

(Source: unverified) pic.twitter.com/ZYRlAyUcZK

— ANI (@ANI) July 4, 2022

However, later, Krishna district Superintendent of Police P Joshua informed PTI that there was no security breach. He further explained that the 2 Congress workers released the balloons from a building under construction at Surampalli village, 4.5 km away from the airport where PM Modi's chopper took off.

PM Modi took off from the Vijayawada International Airport (VIA) for Bhimavaram on Monday. While the Special Protection Group (SPG) termed this as a security breach, State police denied such reports. However, they said one Congress worker was taken in custody in connection with this case. Three other party workers were arrested for trying to enter the airport.

The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee gave a call to organise protests during the PM's visit to the state on Monday, to unveil the statue of freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju, in protest against the 'broken promises', including grant of special category status to AP.

Some Congress workers climbed a building under construction in a village far away from the VIA at Gannavaram and released black balloons, ostensibly filled with hydrogen. A video clip released by the 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.

The Prime Minister's trip ended without incident, much to the relief of everyone but the SPG that is in charge of his security is said to have taken a serious view of it and sought an explanation from the state.

The SPG apparently asked the state police what if they were drones and not just balloons.

(With agency inputs)