2 men jump from visitors’ gallery in Lok Sabha, open smoke cans, cause panic

Parliament security staff took the duo – police identified them as Sagar Sharma (25) from Lucknow and Manoranjan D (35) from Mysore – into custody after they were caught by MPs who roughed up one of the intruders.

Two others, Neelam Singh (42) from Hisar in Haryana and Amol Shinde (25) from Latur in Maharashtra, were arrested from a spot near Parliament House where they too opened smoke canisters soon after the incident in Lok Sabha.

The smoke cans were hidden in shoes. (Image source: MP Danish Ali/X)

A search is on for their associate, identified as Lalit Jha, who was carrying their identity cards and mobile phones, police said, adding that it was Jha who had taken the four to his friend Vicky’s house in Gurgaon when they reached the Capital three days ago.

The two men held in Lok Sabha were seated in the visitors’ gallery – they were said to have gained access to the gallery on visitor passes facilitated by Pratap Simha, BJP MP from Mysuru – and took out canisters from their shoes. Television footage showed them jumping from desk to desk, and they appeared to be headed towards the Well of the House.

Members present in the House told reporters later that the two men were chanting slogans such as “tanashahi nahi chalegi” (dictatorship won’t be accepted).

From inside and outside The Parliament pic.twitter.com/57UfOVUEFY

— Mahender Singh Manral (@mahendermanral) December 13, 2023

When the proceedings resumed, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said, “This is a serious incident. Therefore, a high-level probe is being conducted. Based on the probe’s findings, action will be taken. A detailed review of the existing security arrangements inside the Parliament House will also be taken up. All party leaders and MPs have requested for that. How it can be improved further.. made fool-proof.”

He said he had called a meeting of leaders of all parties. “In our preliminary probe, it has come to our notice that the smoke was harmless and not a cause for concern,” Birla said.

BJP MP Rajendra Agarwal, who was presiding over the House proceedings when the incident occurred, said he saw one person falling from the visitors’ gallery, and simultaneously, another man jumping on the desks. “One of them took something out of his shoes that was emitting smoke. The security personnel caught them, and it remains to be seen who they are, what their objective was and what organisation they are associated with,” he said.

A police officer said, “For now, we know that the persons managed to get general visitor passes. You have to apply for these passes beforehand and a background check is done. Inside the building, there are security checks and scanners. However, these persons managed to carry smoke cans and break into Lok Sabha.”

Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said: “Two young men jumped from the gallery and something was hurled by them from which gas was emitting. They were caught by MPs, (and) they were brought out by security personnel. The House was adjourned until 2 pm. This is certainly a security breach because today we observed the death anniversary of people who sacrificed their lives in 2001.”

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said the canisters were emitting yellow smoke, and raised concerns about what if it were “poisonous”.

“Suddenly two young men jumped into the House from the visitors’ gallery and had canisters. These canisters were emitting yellow smoke. One of them was attempting to run towards the Speaker’s chair. They were shouting some slogans. The smoke could have been poisonous. This is a serious breach of security, especially on December 13, the day when Parliament was attacked in 2001,” he said.