Body scanners, glass on visitors’ gallery: Big security changes after Lok Sabha breach

MPs, staff and visitors were in for a rude shock on Wednesday (13 December) when two individuals jumped into the Lok Sabha from the visitors’ gallery with colour canisters while proceedings for the Winter Session was on.

Investigating the Parliament breach, authorities have found six people involved of which five have been nabbed. Additionally, the Delhi Police has registered a case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against the accused. Notably, Wednesday’s breach coincided with the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack.

The incident has put the focus on the security at the Parliament premises, with many questioning how such a breach could take place at India’s temple of democracy, which is one of the most secure places. In fact, the Trinamool Congress wrote on X, “New India. New Parliament. New Legislations. Same old security breaches. Today, on the 22nd anniversary of the terror attack on the old Parliament building, two men, both carrying smoke canisters emitting an unidentified yellow smoke, jumped from the visitors’ gallery and ran into the Lok Sabha chamber. How did such a significant security breach occur especially when @AmitShah’s MHA-controlled Delhi Police was said to be on high alert? And in whose name were the visitor’s passes issued?”

The breach has prompted heightened security measures at the Parliament premises, with security protocols being revamped. We take a closer look at how Parliament rules have changed in the face of the major security breach.

No visitors allowed

One of the first measures to be taken following the security breach at Lok Sabha was the suspension of entry to visitors to Parliament. Reports state that the Secretary General of the Lok Sabha wrote to the Ministry of Home Affairs and decided to suspend the issuance of visitor permits until further orders.

This comes after it emerged that one of the intruders had got a visitor’s pass from the office of BJP MP Pratap Simha. Sources told News18 that one of the accused hailed from Simha’s constituency, Mysuru, and he would come to his office very often.

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Authorities have added that when they resume the entry of visitors, they will have to enter from a fourth gate and go through additional security checks – a four-tier security system. Currently, visitors were subjected to a three levels of security check – at the entrance of the Parliament complex right before guest passes are made, at the gate of the new Parliament building, and right before the visitor enters the gallery.

New, heightened security measures

In addition to suspending visitors’ entry to Parliament, authorities have also revamped security protocols. It has been said that the visitors’ gallery, from where the two intruders jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber, will now be encased in glass. Furthermore, discussions are being held to keep the first row in the gallery empty, seating visitors from the second row onwards.

In addition to this, body scanning machines, akin to those at airports, will be installed at the premises to ensure that people can’t hide objects on them while entering the Parliament complex. This measure has been taken after it was found that the intruders had hidden the gas canisters in their shoes.

The Parliament authorities have also stated that certified journalists and staff members will now have to strictly adhere to using the separate entry assigned to them and they will have to undergo a rigorous security check. Moreover, the movement of personal assistants and staff of MPs will be restricted.

It has also been discussed to increase the number of security personnel inside the House. According to the MPs, at least 150 more personnel should be deployed.

Inquiry panel formed

The Ministry of Home Affairs has also announced that an inquiry panel has been constituted, led by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director-General Anish Dayal Singh, to probe the security breach in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

“On a request from the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the MHA has ordered an inquiry into the Parliament security breach incident. The inquiry committee has been set up under the chairmanship of Anish Dayal Singh, Director General, CRPF, with members from other security agencies and experts,” a spokesperson from the Home Ministry said.

The inquiry committee will investigate the reasons for the 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,” the MHA added.

On Wednesday evening, following the incident, several Opposition MPs demanded an explanation from Home Minister Amit Shah. The Congress demanded answers from the government and a statement from Shah in both houses of Parliament on the “serious security breach”, saying does the incident “not prove that necessary precautions were not taken”.

MP Shashi Tharoor alleged the new Parliament “does not seem to be configured very well when it comes to security” and the home minister “must come with a detailed response on the security arrangements”.

The incident that rocked Parliament

In a well-planned and coordinated attack, six individuals exposed the shortcomings of the security at the Parliament premises.

Two persons – Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D – jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, releasing yellow gas from canisters and shouting slogans before being overpowered by the MPs.

Around the same time, two other accused – Amol Shinde and Neelam Devi – also sprayed coloured gas from canisters while shouting ‘tanashahi nahi chalegi’ outside Parliament premises.

Following the incident, these four have been detained and the police have also detained Vishal, in whose house the accused stayed before reaching Parliament. The authorities are on the hunt for their sixth accomplice, Lalit Jha, who uploaded the videos of the act.

Their accomplice Vishal, in whose house the accused stayed before reaching Parliament, has been detained from Gurugram while a hunt is on for their other accomplice Lalit.

With inputs from agencies