VISAKHAPATNAM: JanEpalli Srinivasa Rao, who was charged with attempt to murder Opposition YSR Congress leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy at Visakhapatnam airport, has claimed he carried out the attack on his own and no one was behind him. Srinivasa Rao was on Tuesday shifted to hospital after he complained of pain in the chest and hands and was taken back to the Airport police station after medical tests.
Speaking to media for the first time at King George Hospital, he said he had threat to his life and wanted to explain to the people the reasons for his attack on the YSRC leader. Being subjected to questioning for the past two days, Srinivasa Rao in the afternoon complained of pain in the chest and hands. Police immediately called a private practitioner, Dr Devudu Babu, who referred Srinivasa to KGH for tests.
“Srinivasa Rao vitals are in good condition. He is able to speak and answer to the police. Though his radial pulse is normal, I cannot get pulse on the fingertips so we have referred him to KGH for further tests,’’ Dr Devudu Babu said adding, Srinivasa Rao was saying he did not need any treatment and wanted his organs to be donated.’’ On his mental condition, the doctor said an evaluation by a psychiatrist was needed. P6
Srinivasa Rao was immediately shifted to KGH in a wheel chair. While being shifted in a police vehicle, Srinivasa Rao tried to speak to reporters. “Please sir. Please sir. I have to convey some facts to the people. Give me one opportunity to speak,’’ he pleaded as he was taken away in a police vehicle.
At KGH too, he tried to speak to media but police did not allow reporters to go near him. Srinivasa Rao repeatedly said he had threat to his life. “I carried out the attack on my own. No one is behind me,’’ he said adding that he attacked Jagan only to convey the problems of the people to Jagan. “Nannu champestunnaranna,’’ (they are killing me), he shouted as he was whisked into the ward. He also said some people were trying to politicise his death.
KGH duty doctors attended to him around 5.20 pm. After scanning and thorough examination at cardiology department, the doctors said his health condition was normal and he could be taken back to the police station. “We have conducted all necessary medical tests on Srinivasa Rao, who came here with a complaint of chest pain. In our diagnosis, through scanning and other tests, we found that the chest pain is due to gastric trouble as he has reportedly not taken his breakfast and lunch properly. As other findings are normal, we suggested that he can be taken back to the police station,’’ a KGH doctor said.
Later, police took Srinivasa Rao to Airport police station. Speaking to media later in the night, Visakhapatnam Commissioner of Police Mahesh Chandra Laddha, however, said Srinivasa Rao was taken to KGH for a routine medical checkup. On the progress of investigation, the CP said Srinivasa Rao was not cooperating with the investigation officials.
“We have to corroborate what he is saying,’’ Laddha said adding that two teams were sent to Madhya Pradesh and Odisha to question some of the co-workers of the accused. “Srinivasa Rao used the mobile phone of one of his co-workers from MP,’’ he said adding that the accused had three bank accounts (in SBI, Vijaya Bank and Andhra Bank). He received Rs 20,000 and Rs 40,000 from some accounts and the same was transferred to other accounts immediately, he said adding they were verifying the transactions.
“We are also verifying the call details of the accused,’’ he said.
Laddha further added that only three persons had appeared before them while they questioned 38 witnesses in the attack case. Meanwhile, YSRC leader Botcha Satyanarayana said Srinivasa Rao should be provided proper security as he was fearing threat to his life.