Two individuals jump from the visitor’s gallery in Parliament

• Major lapse in security measures
• Another two individuals blow smoke outside Parliament
• Six individuals involved in the ploy; four arrested

New Delhi – During the ongoing winter session of the Parliament, on the 13th December 2023, two individuals jumped from the visitor’s gallery into the hall of the lower House of Parliament. They carried canisters releasing yellow smoke in the hall. The MPs overpowered them and thrashed them. Later, they were taken away by the security guards and handed over to the Police. The House was, therefore, adjourned till 2.00 p.m. The Speaker, Om Birla has promised to submit details of the incident in the House. The purpose of such an act is not yet clear. On the 13th of December 2001, jihadi terrorists attacked outside the Parliament, and on the same date this year, a similar incident has happened. It is being investigated whether there is any connection between the two incidents.

The incident occurred around 12.30 in the afternoon when a question-answer session was going on. Two individuals jumped into the hall and rushed to the Speaker’s chair, leaping across the desks where MPs were sitting. Coloured smoke was released through an object they carried. They were nabbed later.

Smoke even outside the Parliament

Before the incident inside the Parliament, two individuals released yellow smoke through a colour smoke tube. They, too, were nabbed by the security guards and handed over to the Police. It is learnt that two individuals released yellow smoke outside the Parliament and jumped into the hall of the Parliament. They were in contact with each other through social media through which they hatched this plot. There is one woman among them who was raising slogans like ‘Dictatorship will not be tolerated’.

Who are the accused ?

The names of the two individuals who jumped into the Parliament Hall are Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan. They obtained passes to sit in the visitor’s gallery with the help of a letter from BJP MP Pratap Simha from Karnataka. Manoranjan is from Karnataka, while Sagar Sharma is from Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh). None of them had mobiles, bags, or identity cards on them. The other two individuals releasing smoke outside the Parliament were Amol Shinde and Neelam Singh. Amol is from Latur, Maharashtra and Neelam Singh, who was with him, is from Hissar, Haryana. Two more individuals are involved in this plot. One is said to be Lalit Jha and the sixth accused is yet to be identified. Out of the six persons, five are from outside Delhi. They all stayed with Lalit Jha on the 12th of December 2023 at Gurugram (Haryana). They reached Parliament House on the 13th of December 2023. The motive behind the act is not yet clear. They did not raise any slogans during the incident, nor did they throw any handbills. The search for the other two is on.

Information about the attack was received fifteen days ago ! – Congress

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the leader of the Opposition from Congress, has claimed that the information about the attack on Parliament was received fifteen days ago.

Where is Colour Smoke Tube used ?

Colour Smoke Tube is used for taking pictures during Diwali or marriage ceremonies. The tube is filled with colour and on opening it, the coloured smoke comes out. The tube is like a small pipe and can emit smoke at least for 2–3 hours. It, however, does not cause any harm.

Editorial Perspectives

• This incident exposes a major security lapse in the modern Parliament House of India. If the smoke was poisonous, what would have been the situation ?
• The incident occurring on the 22nd anniversary of the terror attack on the old Parliament building is shameful for our security agencies.