Parliament security breach | FIR: Smoke canisters had warning not to use indoors

On December 13, Lucknow resident Sharma and Manoranjan, who hails from Mysuru, jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors’ gallery, raised slogans and opened canisters that emitted yellow smoke, triggering panic among Parliamentarians.

The police registered an FIR at Parliament Street police station on the basis of a complaint filed by Delhi Police personnel. “I along with other police personnel reached the office of Director, Security, new Parliament House Building, where Omkar Singh, Deputy Director of Lok Sabha, was present. He handed over a complaint along with two persons, Sharma and Manoranjan. He also handed over their shoes and Aadhaar cards. They also handed over two used canisters and one Lok Sabha public gallery pass,” the FIR states.

“In Sharma’s grey sport shoes, a cavity was found, created by cutting the inside sole of the left foot shoe. The thickness of the sole had been increased by affixing additional rubber sole at the bottom to support the cavity. Manoranjan’s sport shoes were dark greyish in colour and a similar cavity had been created… The inside sole of the right shoe was also found partly cut,” states the FIR.

According to the FIR, the two used wet canisters of “creative colour smoke”, which have also been seized. “Two partly torn and damaged pamphlets with a printed slogan, ‘Jai Hind’, in English and a picture of fist in Tricolor, and a second pamphlet with a slogan in English on the Manipur issue, were also kept in two separate plastics covers and seized,” the FIR states.

“Further information regarding bursting of crackers and detention of two more suspects, Amol Shinde and Neelam (Azad), who were found involved in similar activities outside gate number 2/3, Parliament House, was received at Parliament Street police station. During preliminary enquiry, both these persons were found to be associates of Sharma and Manoranjan. Four used canisters of creative colour smoke and one unused canister were recovered from the spot,” the FIR states.

Police said that offences under IPC sections 153 (provocation with an intent to cause riot), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 452 (trespass), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servants from discharge of his duty) and under sections 16 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act are made out. “As per the instructions of senior officers, further investigation of the case is to be carried out by the Special Cell,” the FIR states.