Four individuals arrested yesterday after a security breach in India’s Parliament have been remanded to seven days’ police custody for extensive questioning. Sagar Sharma and D Manoranjan, apprehended inside the Lok Sabha chamber, and Neelam Devi and Amol Shinde, detained outside, will face in-depth interrogation, Delhi Police asserted.
The breach, which occurred yesterday afternoon, involved two intruders entering the Lok Sabha and deploying smoke canisters. The thick yellow smoke caused temporary panic, but the perpetrators were quickly subdued by MPs and Parliament security personnel.
Sharma and Manoranjan, allegedly from Lucknow and Mysuru respectively, smuggled the smoke bombs into Parliament. The remaining two, unable to secure visitor passes, protested outside with their own canisters.
All four face charges under the stringent UAPA anti-terror law and various IPC sections. Their suspected accomplice, Vishal Sharma, and his wife, who provided accommodation in Gurugram, were briefly detained but released. Lalit Jha, believed to be the mastermind, remains at large.
Police believe Jha, unable to enter Parliament, filmed the outside protest and uploaded it online before disappearing. Investigators suspect he is in Neemrana, Rajasthan.
In court today, police argued the incident resembled a terror attack and raised questions about the motive. “Was the purpose merely protest, or something more sinister? We must investigate potential terrorist involvement,” they argued.
Police also revealed suspicions that the smoke canisters were smuggled in shoes. The men reportedly purchased two pairs in Lucknow before traveling to Delhi. The canisters themselves were allegedly procured from Mumbai. Additionally, pamphlets intended for Prime Minister Modi were found on the suspects.
Seeking 15 days’ custody, police cited the need to travel to Mumbai and Lucknow for further investigation. However, the judge granted only a week’s detention.
