Police Allots Helipad Near Jail, Upset Jagan Cancels Visit

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s planned visit to Nellore on July 3 has been cancelled, and the reason points to a disagreement over the location of a helipad. What was meant to be a political show of strength has now turned into a debate over public safety and crowd control.

Jagan had planned to visit former MLA Kakani Govardhan Reddy, who is currently in jail in connection with a mining case. The YSR Congress Party wanted Jagan to land at a location about three kilometers from the jail. Their aim was to allow him to travel by road, meet supporters, and hold a rally-like procession on his way to the jail.

But the police had a different plan. They arranged for a helipad very close to the jail to ensure that Jagan could go directly there without passing through public roads. The reason was clear. Just a few days ago, YCP supporter Singayya died after Jagan’s car hit him. That tragic incident has forced police to rethink how political visits are handled, especially when large crowds are expected.

Police officials made it clear that their decision was based on preventing another stampede or overcrowding situation. Allowing a three kilometer roadshow, they said, would have created serious risks for both the public and security personnel.

YSRCP leaders, however, claimed that the government is trying to stop Jagan from gaining public attention. They accused the administration of denying basic arrangements and blocking the rally on purpose. The party also pointed out that the venue they proposed had enough space and distance to conduct the rally safely.

This disagreement over the helipad has now reached the court. While Jagan wanted to make a political statement through a rally, the police insisted on keeping things low key and safe. Since neither side was willing to adjust, the visit was called off.

The entire episode shows how a single decision about a landing spot can turn into a larger conflict between political strategy and public safety.