At least five persons were arrested in connection with the massive security breach in parliament on Wednesday even as the Delhi Police are on the lookout for another accused in the case. The incident, which came on the anniversary of the deadly 2001 Parliament terror attack, has sent shock waves across the country and sparked a war of words between the government and the opposition.
Two persons jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour and released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by Mps and security personnel. The accused were identified as Sagar Sharma and D. Manoranjan.
Around the same time, two persons, identified as Neelam Devi and Amol Shinde, also sprayed coloured gas from canisters while shouting slogans 'tanashahi nahi chalegi' outside the parliament premises.
Sharma is a resident of Lucknow, Manoranjan hails from Mysuru, Shinde from Latur and Neelam from Hisar.
Police said a total of six persons have been involved in the "well-planned and well-coordinated" incident and that five persons have already been arrested. The fifth accused has been identified as Lalit Jha, at whose house in Gurgaon the other five stayed before executing the breach.
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Police officials said that during interrogation, Amol told investigators they were upset with issues like the farmers' protest, Manipur crisis and unemployment and that's why they carried out this act.
The Home Ministry has ordered a high-level probe into the incident. CRPF Director General Anish Dayal Singh will lead the probe team which will have members from other security agencies and experts.
"On request from Lok Sabha Secretariat, MHA has ordered an Enquiry of parliament security breach incident. An Enquiry Committee has been set up under Shri Anish Dayal Singh, DG, CRPF, with members from other security agencies and experts," a ministry spokesperson said.
"Enquiry Committee will investigate into the reasons for breach in security of Parliament, identify lapses and recommend further action. The Committee will submit its report with recommendations, including suggestions on improving security in Parliament, at the earliest," he said.
Over 100 lawmakers, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and several opposition leaders, were present in the house when the incident took place.
Reports claimed that the intruders had come to the gallery with visitor passes facilitated by two-term Lok Sabha member from Mysuru Prathap Simha of the BJP.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has also ordered a probe into the incident as he lauded MPs, security personnel, chamber staff, and marshals for rising to the occasion and capturing the perpetrators.
"The incident is a matter of concern and we are carrying out a high-level inquiry into this incident. The future course of action will be decided as per the findings of the probe," he said.
At an all-party meeting called by Birla later in the afternoon to review the security situation, the opposition members demanded a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah on the incident. They also demanded questioning of Simha.
Members from different parties flagged a variety of issues and raised security concerns in parliament's new building, more so as the security breach happened on the anniversary of the 2001 terror attack on the institution.
Government sources, meanwhile, played down the chances of any serious action against Simha, saying it is a routine practice for MPs to write for passes for people and they cannot be blamed for their conduct, reported PTI.
The Lok Sabha Secretariat has written to Union Home Ministry seeking a review of the security measures at the parliament building.
‘No passes for visitors till further orders’
Meanwhile, the security protocols in parliament were revamped after Wednesday’s security breach, reported NDTV. No passes will be issued for the public till further orders.
Separate entrances to MPs, staff members, and the press were alloted and the visitors' gallery will be encased in glass to stop people from jumping into the chamber, the report said.
Body scan machines, similar to those in airports, will be installed in parliament, it said.
