New Delhi: Lok Sabha secretariat suspended eight security personnel on Thursday over security lapses that led to a major security breach in Parliament on Wednesday.
The security breach happened on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack. Two people–Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D–jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by the MPs.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with senior ministers inside the Parliament over security breaches. While the opposition leaders are demanding statements in both houses.
- Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said “All of us are concerned” about what happened in the House on Wednesday. The security of the House is the responsibility of the Lok Sabha Secretariat.
- Congress MP Manickam Tagore said, “It is an intelligence failure and we hope for a fair investigation of the matter… Home Minister Amit Shah must answer, as the Delhi Police and all security agencies report to him. He cannot run away from this responsibility… BJP MP Mr. Simha provided passes to these culprits, there is a very deep conspiracy behind this and he must not be left unpunished.”
- Meanwhile, a drastic security change was witnessed in the Parliament on Thursday with security personnel deputed on the entrance of the outer gates insisting to remove even shoes despite doing minute frisking of those entering the premises of the campus.
- The new security set-up looks similar to that of the airport where shoes, especially long boots or a few made of leather, are asked to open during security check. Only MPs are being allowed to enter the Parliament building from Makar Dwar, and all persons entering the building are being checked thoroughly.
- The move was adopted a day after Manoranjan and Sagar Sharma were arrested for breaking into the Lok Sabha jumping from the visitors’ gallery and opening smoke cans that were hide by them in their shoes.
- The security personnel have applied restrictions for media to stand nearly 50-60 metres away from ‘Makar Dwar’ of the New Parliament building– one of the six entry gates from where the majority of legislators enter.
- Four people were arrested on Wednesday over the security breach in the Parliament under charges of the anti-terror Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
- As per the Ministry of Home Affairs, the enquiry committee will investigate into the reasons for the breach in the 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,” the MHA had said.
WHO WERE THE INTRUDERS?
- According to Police sources quoted by newswire ANI, all the accused were associated with the social media page ‘Bhagat Singh Fan Club’.
- Everyone met in Mysuru about one and a half years ago.
- One of the intruders- Sagar came from Lucknow in July but could not go inside the Parliament House.
- On December 10, one by one everyone reached Delhi from their respective states.
- Everyone met near India Gate where colored crackers were distributed to everyone. Police is continuously interrogating them to find out who is the mastermind behind them, as per initial investigation, main conspirator is someone else.
- Sagar Sharma, a resident of Lucknow’s Manaknagar area, is said to be inspired by left-wing ideology and use to share and comment on similar posts using two Facebook accounts.
- Both Facebook accounts of Sagar have not been active for several months. His Facebook pages revealed that Sagar was also in contact with many people from Kolkata, Rajasthan and Haryana via Facebook.
- On the other hand, family members of Sagar have locked their house and gone to an undisclosed location. Sagar’s family includes his father, mother and younger sister. The family originally hails from Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao district and has lived here in Lucknow in rented accommodation for almost 20 years.
- Himanshu, owner of the electric rickshaw that Sagar used to run, said that “one and a half months ago, he had taken my electric rickshaw on rent. He was a very nice boy and used to take e-rickshaw in morning and bring it out in the evening, just like any other driver. He used to keep himself within his work.”
- Ahead of this, Sagar’s family said on Wednesday that Sagar left his home in Lucknow two days ago to take part in a “protest” in Delhi. However, the family said they were unaware of his involvement in the Parliament security breach.
- Sagar’s maternal uncle has raised suspension on Sagar being framed in conspiracy and said, “I am shocked that he jumped into parliament; only God knows the truth. He has been pulled into it as per a conspiracy by someone who holds a big position; otherwise, he is a simple boy.”
Anuj Kumar Sharma Sagar’s fellow e-rickshaw driver said, “He also used to drive an e-rickshaw on rent; the boy is very good; he never quarrelled with anyone in the locality; whenever I used to come to the locality, I saw that he came, did his work and went away. He used to come and sit near my house and ask for work.” - On Wednesday, in a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack, two people–Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D–jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by the MPs.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police Special Cell has registered a case under sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act to probe into the security breech incident, while the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has ordered an inquiry.