NEW DELHI, Dec 13: In a major security breach on the anniversary of the deadly 2001 Parliament terror attack, two people on Wednesday jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors’ gallery, shouted slogans and released yellow smoke from canisters that triggered panic and chaos in the House.
Around the same time, two others, including a woman, raised slogans and released yellow smoke from canisters outside the Parliament premises, prompting the police to get into action and round up the duo.
The Ministry of Home Affairs ordered a probe into the incident following a request from the Lok Sabha Secretariat, officials said.
The inquiry committee, headed by CRPF Director General Anish Dayal Singh, along with members from other security agencies and experts, will find out the lapses in the security of Parliament and recommend action, an MHA spokesperson said.
Police sources said the security breach was a “well-planned and well-coordinated” incident carried out by six people, all of whom were in contact with each other over social media platforms.
The incident in the Lok Sabha chamber took place at around 1:00 pm when BJP member Khagen Murmu was raising an issue during Zero Hour. While one started crossing the benches in a bid to approach the Speaker’s chair, the other was seen dangling from the railing of the visitor’s gallery before jumping into the chamber, according to several MPs present in the House.
Alarmed members, including Hanuman Beniwal, Malook Nagar and Gurjeet Singh Aujla, overpowered and thrashed the intruders, who had come to the gallery with visitor passes facilitated by two-term Lok Sabha member from Mysuru Prathap Simha of BJP, before handing them over to the security personnel.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and several opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury were among the over 100 lawmakers present at the time of the incident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were not in the House.
Rajendra Agrawal, who was in the chair, adjourned the proceedings immediately for one hour.
Opposition members termed the security breach as the worst since the 2001 terror attack in which 14 persons, including five terrorists who stormed Parliament complex, were killed. (PTI)
