Parliament Security Breach Live Updates: Key accused Lalit Jha arrested, 4 others sent to 7-day police custody

The group that breached Parliament on Wednesday bought Indian flags from North Delhi’s Sadar Bazaar in the morning, collected visitors’ passes from an MP’s personal assistant just hours earlier, and were careful not to lob the smoke canisters to ensure their actions are not construed as an attack, their questioning by the Delhi Police has revealed.

Read what else they did here

Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Atul Srivastava stated in court that the accused were carrying a pamphlet showing the PM as a missing person and that the reward for finding him would be paid by a Swiss bank.

APP Srivastava also stated that the shoes in which the accused hid the smoke cans were bought from Lucknow and the smoke cans from Mumbai. Further, the APP underlined that the accused had created a group called ‘Bhagat Singh Fan Club’. “We need to take the accused to these places. We wish to find out who are the people behind it, what is the funding they got,” added Srivastava.

The four accused arrested in the Parliament security breach have been sent to 7-day police custody after the police said an in-depth investigation was necessary to unearth the larger conspiracy behind their acts. Seeking a 15-day custody of the accused — Manoranjan D, Sagar Sharma, Neelam Verma and Amol Shinde — who were yesterday charged under sections of the UAPA, Public Prosecutor Atul Srivastava had said the accused were carrying a pamphlet showing the PM as a missing person. “They have shown reward to be paid by Swiss bank,” he said.

The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed resolutions suspending 14 MPs amid the Opposition creating an uproar over the security breach in Parliament on Wednesday and stalling proceedings demanding a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Who are they?

Congress MPs T N Prathapan, Hibi Eden, Ramya Haridas, Dean Kuriakose and Jothimani were suspended for the remainder of the ongoing Winter Session of the Parliament on charges of alleged misconduct and disregard of the House and authority of the Chair.

Later, Congress MPs Manickam Tagore, Benny Behanan, K Sreekandan and Mohammad Jawed; CPM MPs P R Natarajan and S Venkatesan, DMK’s Kanimozhi and S R Parthiban and K Subbarayan of the CPI were suspended.

Read more here

Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje has sought a thorough probe into the security breach at Parliament and strict action against the offenders. "Our request is that there should be a thorough investigation and offenders should be punished," PTI quoted Karandlaje as saying.

The Delhi Police is conducting raids to the nab the sixth man suspected to be a key part of the group that breached Parliament, an officer told news aagency PTI.

Lalit Jha, a Kolkata-based teacher, was the main conspirators of the security breach, police said.Police said that the 6 accused were heavily influenced by revolutionery Shaheed Bhagat Singh and wanted to commit an act which could draw the country's attention to them.

The security agencies so far have not found their connections with any terror group, the officer said.According to the person, all six joined a Bhagat Singh fan page on Facebook after coming in touch with each other on social media.

Lalit, Sagar Sharma, and Maoranjan D had about a year ago met in Mysore where they made a plan to barge into the parliament. They later added Neelam and Amol into the plan.Being a teacher, Lalit took the lead and instructed Manoranjan to do a reccee of all entry points of the Parliament during the Monsoon Session.

The parents of Amol Shinde, a man from Maharashtra's Latur who was arrested for protesting outside Parliament, said their son always wanted to join the army and sought Rs 4,000 per month from them to study further, which they were unable to provide.

They said he participated in army and police recruitment drives at various places, including Assam, and even worked as a daily wage labourer as he was unemployed. Amol Shinde (25), a resident of Zari village in Chakur tehsil of Latur, was arrested on Wednesday along with Neelam, 42, of Haryana's Hisar, after they opened gas canisters that emitted smoke outside the Parliament building and shouted "Tanashahi Nahi Chalegi" (dictatorship will not be allowed), "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Jai Bheem, Jai Bharat".

After the incident in Delhi, a team of Latur police visited his house in Zari village. (PTI)

For those of you who just tuned in, here is a run down of what has happened so far: 
? 4 arrested charged under UAPA. They will be presented before a local court later today. 
? Security measures ramped up around Parliament. No visitors were permitted to enter today. 
? Chaos ensues in both Houses as Opposition leaders demand a discussion on the security breach. 
?  Both Houses adjourned for now. Proceedings will resume at 2 PM 
? TMC MP Derek O'Brien was suspended from Parliament due to "misbehaviour". 

And now you are caught up! Stay tuned for more

A day after Parliament security breach, stringent measures were put in place in and around the building on Thursday with police and Parliament security staff thoroughly vetting credentials of those entering the complex.

Security personnel deployed outside Transport Bhavan, just metres away from the Parliament complex, did not allow anyone to go beyond barricades until they had checked their identity cards, news agency PTI reported. 

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma was not allowed to enter the new building from Makar Dwar. Sangma got down from his car and walked to Shardul Dwar to enter the building.

The Rajya Sabha adopted a motion for the suspension of TMC MP Derek O' Brien for the remainder part of the winter session for "misconduct". 

Several Opposition leaders have flagged security concerns after yesterday's incident. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said Union Home Minister Amit Shah should brief the House about the security measures being introduced to avoid a situation like this in the future. "Home Minister was not there, and the opposition decided that in the absence of a serious effort by the government to be accountable for the security lapse, they would therefore disrupt the House (Lok Sabha)," Tharoor told news agency PTI. 

Meanwhile, Karti Chidambram said the incident should not be brushed aside. " We cannot brush it aside as some sort of protest by youth. This cannot be ignored just because there were no fatalities," he told PTI.

In a post shared on social media platform X, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh listed out the demands of the INDIA leaders. Take a look: 

Here's a rundown of what has happened in Parliament so far: 

?? Security was ramped up because of yesterday's incident. No visitors were permitted to enter the premises on Thursday and MPs underwent thorough security checks 
?? Opposition leaders raised slogans of 'Home Minister sadan me aao' in Rajya Sabha. Some even demanded the Home Minister's resignation. 
?? TMC MP Derek O'Brien was asked to leave the House, with chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar saying that he has committed 'breach of privilege'.
?? Amid the chaos, both Houses were adjourned -- the RS till noon and LS till 2 PM. 

Stay tuned for more!

Amid this morning's chaos in Lok Sabha, some Opposition leaders demanded Union Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation.  "Gruh mantri saram karo", "Modi sarkar hai hai," and  "PM sadan mein aao” were some of the slogans we could catch while following the proceedings. 

Scenes of chaos played out in Parliament on Thursday as Opposition leaders demanded a discussion on yesterday's security breach. The leaders chanted slogans of ‘Amit Shah nyaay karo, Amit Shah jawaab do (Amit Shah, give answers)’ in Lok Sabha. Eventually both Houses were adjourned. 

Earlier today, leaders of the INDIA bloc had assembled for a meeting to discuss their strategy for the day. They had decided to take up the security breach during today's proceedings. Stay tuned for more!

As many as eight security personnel were suspended by the Lok Sabha secretariat over the massive security breach that took place at the Parliament on Wednesday.

At least three of the four people arrested in connection with the Lok Sabha security breach are unemployed, with the families of two saying they were despondent over not getting a job.

1) Manoranjan D: A resident of Mysuru, he an engineering graduate who worked in an IT firm, was now helping his father with farming. 

2) Amol Shinde (25) from Latur had failed to clear Army recruitment

3) Neelam Azad (37) from Jind had unsuccessfully appeared for a trained graduate teacher’s job.

4) Sagar Sharma (25) from Lucknow, drove an e-rickshaw.

Fewer security staff, reduced height of the visitors’ gallery from the House floor in the new Parliament building, an increase in the number of visitors of late, and shoes not being checked — these are among factors that contributed to Wednesday’s Lok Sabha security breach, officials in the Parliament Security Services and Delhi Police told The Indian Express.

It is also learnt that the Delhi Police security wing had conducted a meeting to review security arrangements in and around Parliament. This was after Khalistan separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, on December 6, threatened to attack Parliament “on or before December 13”. A senior police officer confirmed that a meeting was conducted and discussions were held to increase deployment, but said it was not connected to Pannun’s threat.

Over the past month, Delhi Police has increased deployment from 250 personnel to 300. Read more. 

Security measures were stepped up at the Parliament complex on Wednesday. Visitors have been barred from entering.Only MPs are being allowed to enter the Parliament building from Makar Dwar, and all persons entering the building are being checked thoroughly also by making them remove their shoes, news agency ANI reported. This comes after yesterday's intruder managed to get past security with smoke canisters in their shoes. 

In a major security breach Wednesday, hours after leaders and lawmakers led the nation in paying tribute to those who died in the line of duty this day in 2001 during the terror attack on Parliament House, two men jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors’ gallery, raised slogans and opened canisters that emitted yellow smoke, triggering panic among those present and raising questions of what if.

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.

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.

In the wake of the security breach in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, a meeting held by Telangana Legislative Assembly Pro-Tem Speaker Akbaruddin Owaisi and Legislative Council Chairman Gutha Sukhender Reddy has decided to strictly implement security measures during the ongoing Assembly session.

Telangana Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu, state DGP and other senior police officials attended the meeting. The meeting, held as per the directives of the Pro-Tem Speaker, condemned the incident of security breach in Parliament, Sridhar Babu's office said in a statement on Wednesday night. The meeting reviewed the security measures to be taken to prevent such incidents at a time when the Assembly is in session.

The police officials were asked to strictly implement a three-step security system. The Pro-Tem Speaker directed that every person visiting the Assembly should be checked thoroughly. The meeting decided not to issue any fresh passes other than those that have already been issued, it added. The Assembly session began on December 9 when many newly-elected members took oath and it was adjourned to December 14. The election of Speaker would take place on Thursday. (PTI)

A little after 1 pm, as I walked down from the media gallery on the first floor to the lobby outside the Lok Sabha chamber, I heard a woman MP screaming as she ran down the new, gleaming ramp: “Poisonous gas attack, poisonous gas attack.” I was at a vantage point, right outside the chamber from where more MPs rushed out – some anxious, the others agitated.

“Kya keh rehein (what is she saying)?,” asked a Union minister, before scoffing, “Drama hai”. Nothing about the day that began on a rather sombre note – with the MPs along with the Vice President, Lok Sabha Speaker and the Prime Minister paying tributes to the martyrs of the 2001 Parliament attack – would have prepared them for what would end up being one of the most eventful days in the history of Lok Sabha. Minutes earlier, at 1.01 pm, two men who were seated in the Lok Sabha's visitors' gallery in the new state-of-the-art Parliament building, had jumped on to the last row of tables, then on to the floor, before running towards the Speaker's chair. Pulling out canisters wrapped in paper napkins from their sports shoes, they had yanked the cans open, leaving the House in a haze of yellow. Some MPs stood stupefied, others displayed a rare agility as they darted across desks to capture the two men. Senior BJP leader Rajendra Agrawal, who was in the chair, hastily adjourned the proceedings. Tap to read

Fewer security staff, reduced height of the visitors’ gallery from the House floor in the new Parliament building, an increase in the number of visitors of late, and shoes not being checked — these are among factors that contributed to Wednesday’s Lok Sabha security breach, officials in the Parliament Security Services and Delhi Police told The Indian Express.

It is also learnt that the Delhi Police security wing had conducted a meeting to review security arrangements in and around Parliament. This was after Khalistan separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, on December 6, threatened to attack Parliament “on or before December 13”. A senior police officer confirmed that a meeting was conducted and discussions were held to increase deployment, but said it was not connected to Pannun’s threat.

Over the past month, Delhi Police has increased deployment from 250 personnel to 300. Read more. 

Hello and welcome back to our live blog! We will be tracking all the latest updates on the Parliament security breach. Follow this space for the latest updates! 

Here's what you need to know: 

?? On the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack, a massive security breach took place in Lok Sabha, when two intruders leapt into the chamber from the visitors gallery and opened smoke cans. Meanwhile, outside the Parliament, two others were arrested for protesting with coloured smoke.

?? But how did they manage to dodge layers of security inside the Parliament House? We explain. 

?? Since the incident, the entry of visitors in the House has now been suspended. As one would expect, jumping into the chamber of the House is not permitted under the Rules of the House. What do the rules say? Read our report. 

?? Turns out, just a day before the security breach, the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) floated a tender for additional security infrastructure, including gadgets and bulletproof barriers, for the Parliament complex. We break down the CPWD’s proposed project.

?? “I was at a vantage point, right outside the chamber from where more MPs rushed out – some anxious, the others agitated.” The Indian Express’ Deputy Editor Liz Mathew witnessed Wednesday’s intrusion from the media gallery of the Parliament. She recounts what happened.

A fifth suspect, identified as Vicky, has also been detained by the police.

On request of the Lok Sabha Secretariat, Ministry of Home Affairs have ordered a probe into the breach case. "An Enquiry Committee has been set up under Shri Anish Dayal Singh, DG, CRPF, with members from other security agencies and experts for the same," said MHA.

The two intruders behind the security breach in Parliament on Wednesday, on the 22nd anniversary of a terror attack on the House, were present in the Lok Sabha via a visitors’ pass, issued to them on the request of BJP Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha.

The entry of visitors in the House has now been suspended, though there is no official communication to this effect. Read more

The father of Manoranjan D, one of the two men who entered the Lok Sabha Wednesday and opened canisters that emitted yellow-coloured smoke, has told The Indian Express he was unaware his son was in Delhi, and that he condemns his actions.

“If he has done something wrong, he is not my son. But let me tell you, he is good… I was unaware he is in Delhi. He was a student leader in his college days, but I do know about his affiliations. I condemn his act,” said Devaraj D. Know more about Manoranjan D here

The two persons who entered the Lok Sabha chamber on Wednesday (December 13) and opened canisters that emitted yellow smoke were carrying authorisation passes by BJP MP Pratap Simha.

According to PTI, Manoranjan D, one of the accused, introduced co-accused Sagar Sharma as a friend to the MP’s office and got passes issued to them on the pretext of watching the new Parliament. Three passes were issued at the behest of Simha for Wednesday. However, one person, a woman, had to return as she arrived with her child whose name was not mentioned in her pass, sources close to the MP said. Know more about him here

In a massive security breach at the Parliament complex today, two people jumped into the chamber from the public gallery in the afternoon and opened canisters that emitted a yellow gas. Both were arrested. Two more -- a man and a woman -- were nabbed by local police outside the Parliament, where they were protesting with yellow smoke. Following the breach, the entry of visitors inside the complex has now been suspended. The Opposition in Rajya Sabha demanded an explanation from Union Home Minister Amit Shah and adjournment of the proceedings.

Members of Parliament who were present in the House when a terror attack was carried out on it on December 13, 2001, and also on Wednesday, when there was a major security breach with two men bringing in canisters carrying coloured gas, say the two incidents were very different.

Among them was BJD Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab. On Wednesday, he had finished speaking during the Zero Hour, when there was sudden commotion in the House over a man jumping from the visitors' gallery onto MP benches.

Mahtab said what happened in 2001 was a terror attack. "Heavily armed Pakistani terrorists barged inside the gates of the Parliament complex and started firing. Security personnel and Watch and Ward staff were martyred securing the building and managed to neutralise them before they could enter and cause bloodshed inside... We heard the sound of gunshots inside the House,” recalled Mahtab. Read full story here

The younger brother of one of the accused -- Neelam -- who was caught from outside the Parliament, said, "...We didn't even know that she went to Delhi. All we knew was that she was in Hisar for her studies...She had visited us the day before yesterday and returned yesterday. She has qualified BA, MA, B.Ed, M.Ed, CTET, M.Phil and NET. She had raised the issue of unemployment several times and had also participated in farmers' protests..."

The Opposition in Rajya Sabha today demanded a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah explaining the security breach in Lok Sabha after two people jumped into the chamber from the public gallery in the afternoon and opened canisters that emitted a yellow gas. The entry of visitors inside the Parliament House complex has been suspended after the breach.

The entry of visitors inside the Parliament House complex has been suspended after two people jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery on Wednesday afternoon and and canisters that emitted a yellow gas.

The two persons protesting outside the Parliament by spraying coloured gas today were identified as Neelam, 42, of Haryana's Hisar, and Amol Shinde, 25, of Maharasthra's Latur area.

Expressing his concerns about the security breach at the Parliament today, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoo said he believes that the matter is serious enough that Home Minister Amit Shah may want to explain to the nation about the security lapses and security arrangements.

Terming the security breach in Parliament on Wednesday an “affront to our democratic values”, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal demanded strict and swift action against the two men who entered the Lok Sabha and opened canisters that emitted yellow-coloured smoke.

“Today’s breach in Parliament, on the solemn anniversary of the 2001 attack, is an affront to our democratic values. The security of our temple of democracy cannot be compromised,” Kejriwal said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. Read full story here

"Certainly, there is a loophole," said Lok Sabha BJP member Rajendra Agrawal. "At first, I thought a person might have fallen but when the second person started coming down, all of us became cautious," PTI quoted Agarwal as saying.

Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora and other senior officers visited the Parliament House complex to take stock of the situation after the security breach on Wednesday.

Two persons, who enterd Lok Sabha and opened canisters that emitted yellow gas, have been identified as Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan. Sharma had come to the visitor's gallery as a guest of Mysuru Lok Sabha member Prathap Simha.

Forensics team arrives at the Parliament following the security breach on the Lok Sabha premises.

Leader of Oppsition in Rajya Sabha Malliakrjun Kharge raised the issue in the House once again. "We request you, kindly adjourn. Let the Home Minister come and give more details," he said.

Reacting to this, Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal said, "I think Rajya Sabha is the House of Elders. We should give a message that this country's strength is above all this. House proceedings should continue... I think Congress is politicising it and this is not a good message for the country."

The security breach inside Parliament on Wednesday came exactly 22 years after the December 13, 2001, attack on the building that had left nine dead.

At around 11.40 am that day, five terrorists entered the old Parliament House Complex in an Ambassador car wielding a red light and carrying a Home Ministry sticker – later found to be fake – on the windshield. Read full story here

Delhi Police Special Cell DCP Rajiv Ranjan has arrived at Parliament to investigate the attack. 

??  Two intruders were arrested from inside Parliament and two from outside. 
?? The two people who jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber were seated in the visitor's gallery
??Members present inside the House told reporters later that they (the protesters) were chanting slogans such as ‘tana shahi nahi chalegi‘ (dictatorship won’t be accepted). They have been detained.
?? The two detained outside Parliament have been identified as Amol from Maharashtra and Neelam from Haryana 
?? Lok Sabha is conducting a probe and the Delhi Police has also been instructed to do so.
?? Speaker OM Birla called a meeting of MPs later in the day, where he said all concerns will be addressed. 

It has been about an hour since the attack and the Lok Sabha proceedings have already resumed. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla kicked off proceedings by saying that the incident was being 'thoroughly investigated'. 

"Honourable members, the incident that occurred during zero hour is being investigated by the Lok Sabha, and in this context, necessary directions have also been given to Delhi Police. As far as our concerns about the nature of the smoke are concerned, in our preliminary probe, it has come to our notice that the smoke was harmless and not a cause for concern...Both (people inside parliament) have been apprehended and all their belongings have been confiscated. I will inform the House of the final findings.."  Om Birla informed the House as soon as it re-assembled at 2pm.

Wednesday's attack took place on the anniversary of the 2001 attack on Parliament. 

The attack resulted in the deaths of 9 innocents and injured 18. Moreover, it struck at the very heart of the Indian state and its democracy, in one of the most secure locations in the country.

A senior police officer explained that while the Delhi Police has the responsibility of providing a security cover outside the parliament, the security inside and at the entry/exit gates is not under their ambit. " The parliament security services or CRPF must have detained the persons who were inside the Lok Sabha.

For now, we know 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, the persons managed to carry smoke sticks and then break into the Lok Sabha. At present, they are with the parliament security services. The officials will later hand them over to us and file a complaint" he said. Jignasa Sinha reports

The two protestors, detained outside Parliament for protesting with yellow smoke, have been identified as Neelam (42) and Anmol (25). Police said they were caught outside the parliament. DCP Pranav Tayal said Neelam and Anmol were waiting outside the parliament while other person(s) entered the Lok Sabha. Jignasa Sinha reports

Sharing a photo of the attack on social media platform X, Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale slammed the Centre for allegedly turning the Parliament into a "tourist spot" and compromising the "safety and security" of MPs. 

"BJP constantly has been bringing their people & supporters into the new Parliament building," Gokhale wrote. "Which MP approved their passes? Is he from the BJP?" 

Soon after the attack, both Houses of Parliament were adjourned. Several MPs who were present during the attack, recounted what happened. 

'Which MP approved their passes? Is he from the BJP?

BJP MP Rajendra Agarwal, who was presiding over the House proceedings said that he saw one person falling from the visitors’ gallery, and simultaneously, another man was 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 seen who they are, what was their objective and what organisation are they associated with,” he added.

Meanwhile,  Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury: “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 till 2 pm. This is certainly a security breach because today we observed the death anniversary of people who sacrificed their lives in 2001.”

Two people jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery and opened tear gas canisters. Televised footage of the proceedings show members attempting to catch the intruders as they climbed from desk to desk. Both Houses were adjourned moments later.

One person was seen leaping over the benches of the Lok Sabha while another was seen dangling from the public gallery spraying a yellow coloured gas when Zero Hour was in progress. Take a look: 

Parliamentary proceedings took a rather unexpected turn this afternoon when two people jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery and opened cylinders of a yellow gas, that some members have described as tear gas. Chaos ensued as members chased the two intruders as they climbed over desks. The two were eventually caught and detained. Meanwhile outside Parliament, two more individuals were detained for protesting with yellow gas.

This is a developing story. Follow our live blog for the latest!