Parliament Security Breach: 4 suspects arrested, 2 absconding as police launch manhunt

Lok Sabha Security Breach: Six individuals were involved in the planning and execution of the Parliament security lapse plot, the Delhi Police disclosed on Wednesday. A manhunt is being conducted, according to them, to find the other two accused who are still at large, while four of the suspects have been taken into custody. An ANI report said that five of the suspects have been identified, citing sources. The accused came from outside the nation’s capital and lodged at a co-conspirator’s home in Gurugram, Haryana. Four of them were nabbed earlier today: two inside the Lok Sabha and two outside the Parliament. Officials from Delhi Police say that preliminary inquiries have shown that all four of the accused and an unidentified fifth person entered Delhi from the outside and lodged at the Gurugram residence of a co-conspirator named Lalit Jha. The Delhi Police said that although four of the suspects—Sagar Sharma, Manoranjan, Neelam (42), and Amol (25)—have been taken into custody, a manhunt has been started to find Jha and the other accused, who has not yet been named. According to Delhi Police officers, initial investigations into the detention of Neelam and Amol outside Parliament in front of Transport Bhawan discovered that they were not carrying any identification documents or cell phones. They added that both have denied having any affiliation with any organisation. Senior Intelligence Bureau personnel had visited the new Parliament building, the scene of the serious security breach, earlier in the day. On the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack, two people broke major security earlier today when they leaped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour. They yelled slogans and blasted yellow gas from canisters before being overcome by MPs. Simultaneously, two individuals, one of which was a woman, shouted “tanashahi nahi chalegi” and shot coloured gas from canisters outside the Parliament buildings. Security personnel have taken custody of all four of them. Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan are the two people who have been recognised as being involved in the Lok Sabha incident. As a guest of Prathap Simha, a member of the Mysuru Lok Sabha, Sharma had arrived at the visitor’s gallery. Around 1:00 pm, the two leaped into the chamber from the public gallery. And according to other MPs in the House, one was seen leaping over the seats, while the other was seen dangling from the gallery before diving into the Chamber. A section of the Lok Sabha chamber was filled with yellow-colored smoke, so BJP member Rajendra Agrawal, who was presiding over the proceedings, postponed them till 2:00 pm. “Two intruders have been arrested from inside Parliament, two from outside. All their belongings have been seized…The entire matter is being investigated thoroughly,” Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said when the House re-convened at 2 pm. The Parliament House complex has temporarily been closed to tourists in the wake of the security incident. Reports stated that those who had day permits valid for entry were being turned away from the front desk. According to officials, no written directive “banning” visitors has been issued as of yet. Visitor passes are typically good for two hours. Significantly, the security lapse occurs in the wake of a recent threat video released by US-based Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who promised to strike Parliament by December 13 at the latest. (With agency inputs)