The National Democratic Alliance partners organised a massive roadshow of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Vijayawada on May 8 as part of election campaign, five days before polling on May 13.
It was a massive road show of Modi and the response, according to media reports, was huge.
Everything went off well and the NDA partners – Telugu Desam Party, Jana Sena Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party were jubilant.
Two weeks after the roadshow, the state police department on Thursday received a letter from the Union home ministry that there were some serious security lapses in the Prime Minister’s roadshow in Vijayawada on May 8.
Though, 5,000 police forces from para military, Andhra Pradesh Special Police (APSP), law and order, Armed Reserve and other wings were deployed as security for the PM’s tour, the Centre felt that no precautions were taken in preventing flying of drones over the rally.
In fact, the area between Gannavaram Airport and Prakasam Barrage, and the M.G. Road from Old Police Control Room (PCR) to Benz Circle (on both sides) had been declared as red zone and flying of drones was completely banned.
Yet, the special protection group providing security to the Prime Minister noticed that drones were flown 45 minutes before Modi’s rally and also after the conclusion of rally. The SPG cops, in fact, defused a drone minutes before Modi took out the roadshow.
Based on the SPG report, the Union home ministry sent notices to Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta, seeking an explanation why the state police had not taken enough precautions to prevent flying of drones on the no-fly zone or red zone.
The Centre asked the DGP to identify the officers responsible for the same and take stringent action against them.
