by Raashid Andrabi
SRINAGAR: A major security breach shook Lok Sabha during Wednesday afternoon’s Zero Hour in Parliament when two men, carrying canisters emitted an, as yet unidentified yellow smoke, after jumping from the visitors’ gallery and the main hall.
CCTV footage from the House captured one man, in a dark blue shirt, leaping across desks to evade capture, while the second was in the visitors’ gallery dispersing smoke. Both individuals were subdued by MPs and the security personnel together.
Lok Sabha resumed at 2 pm, and Speaker Om Birla delivered a brief statement.
“Respected members, today’s incident is a matter of concern and a serious matter. I commend our esteemed house members, security personnel, the marshal, and the chamber staff for their promptness in apprehending the intruders fearlessly. On this day in 2001, a similar courage was displayed by the central security forces, parliament security, and staff to thwart an attack. Today, the house is grateful as we have come together once again to avert this attack,” Birla said.
“This incident is a serious matter, and thus, we are conducting a thorough investigation. Appropriate action will be taken based on the investigation’s findings. The current security arrangements within the parliament will also be scrutinised, as emphasised by leaders of all parties,” the Speaker added.
The Lower House adjourned until 11 am Thursday following the security breach.
Shocking visuals shared by news agency ANI revealed a Lok Sabha official reading seconds before chaos ensued. Shouts of “catch him, catch him” echoed as intruder, later identified as Sagar Sharma, attempted to reach the Speaker’s Chair. Present during the incident were Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and Anupriya Patel.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was absent from Parliament, being in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur for the BJP Chief Minister’s swearing-in ceremony.
The intruders Sagar Sharma and an accomplice were caught with a visitor’s pass, issued by BJP MP Pratap Simha’s office in Mysuru. The recovery raised questions as visitors typically undergo multiple security clearances before entering the Parliament.
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram informed NDTV that initially, he mistook the incident for someone falling from the visitors’ gallery. He only realised it was a security breach after the second person jumped, expressing concern about the potential poisonous gas.
“This is a serious breach of security, especially on December 13, the day when Parliament was attacked in 2001,” he said.
Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay termed it a “terrible experience,” highlighting the uncertainty about the intruders’ target. He emphasised the need for swift action, characterising it as a security lapse.
The Delhi Police identified the arrested protesters outside Parliament as Neelam, 42, from Hisaar and Amol Shinde, 25, from Latur, Maharashtra. Neelam said that they are not affiliated with any organisation and took this step due to “government atrocities against citizens.”
Neelam is a civil services entrance examination aspirant studying in Hisar, Haryana. Neelam, highly qualified with BA, MA, and M Phil degrees, had previously participated in farmer protests. Her mother, Saraswati, mentioned Neelam’s frustration with unemployment, emphasising her academic qualifications without influential connections.
The intruders inside the House were identified as Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan, according to reports appearing in the media. All accused reportedly concealed the smoke canisters in their shoes.
The breach occurred on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack.
AAP MP Raghav Chadha termed it not just a security breach but an “attack on India’s democracy.” He raised questions about the breach, including how someone could carry a smoke can to the Lok Sabha visitor gallery, the involvement of any endorsing MP, and the adequacy of security protocols, particularly on the anniversary of the 2001 attack.
