VIJAYAWADA: Guntur police found that elderly man and YSRCP activist Cheeli Singaiah (65) was run over by former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s car during his recent visit to Sattenapalli.
The former CM’s convoy continued with the rally, apparently unaware that a person had been crushed under the wheels of the vehicle.
Initially, Guntur SP Satish Kumar stated that Singaiah was run over by a vehicle in Jagan’s convoy. However, it has now emerged that Singaiah was mowed down by Jagan’s vehicle itself.
Jagan had visited Rentapalla village in the Sattenapalli constituency two days ago to console the family of a party activist who had died by suicide about a year earlier.
A massive crowd followed Jagan’s convoy throughout the trip from Tadepalli to Rentapalla village.
Although police had granted permission for only three vehicles and about 100 people to accompany the convoy, an unprecedented crowd gathered and surrounded Jagan’s vehicle en route.
Party activist Singaiah was among those present.
He reportedly tried to approach the former chief minister’s vehicle to shower it with flowers. With the crowd pressing in from all sides, police were unable to maintain control.
In the melee, Singaiah was pushed down by fellow party workers.
Although witnesses shouted when they saw him being run over, neither the security personnel nor the driver seemed to realise the gravity of the situation or stop the vehicle.
While Jagan was greeting supporters, the car moved ahead, leaving Singaiah crushed to death near Eturukur village on the outskirts of Guntur city.
A local ASI, Manohar, who was on patrol duty, noticed Singaiah had been run over and rushed him to the hospital.
However, doctors declared him dead on arrival.
As political blame games unfolded, YSRCP leaders quietly visited Singaiah’s residence and handed over a cheque of Rs 10 lakh as ex gratia from the party.
Telugu Desam Parliamentary Party (TDPP) leader Lavu Krishnadevarayalu criticised the incident, stating, “Politics should never cost lives. Rallies and roadshows must be about hope, not tragedy. Let’s make safety, dignity, and humanity non-negotiable in public life.”
Former minister and YSRCP district president Ambati Rambabu called Singaiah’s death “an unfortunate incident that took place during the rally.”