New Delhi: A major security breach took place at the Lok Sabha on Wednesday where two men jumped down the visitors' gallery into the chamber and opened canisters that emitted yellow smoke, triggering a security scare among the parliamentarians.
The two protestors, identified as Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan, are now in the custody of Delhi Police.
Sagar Sharma's family said he left home a few days ago to attend a "protest" in Delhi, reported news agency PTI. Sharma is a resident of Ramnagar in Lucknow.
Sharma is an auto-driver by profession.
Rani Sharma, Sharma’s mother, said, "He used to drive an e-rickshaw. We are four people (in the family). My husband works as a carpenter...He had gone two days ago. He had told me that he is going with his friends, as there is some work."
“We have called Sagar’s father Roshan Lal, a carpenter, to ask about his son,” PTI reported quoting SHO of Manak Nagar police station Shiv Mangal Singh.
Manoranjan
Manoranjan D, hailing from Mysuru in Karnataka, is an engineering graduate and was looking after the family farm. He also worked in some firms in Delhi and Bengaluru, his family said, reported PTI.
His father, Devraj, told the Indian Express said he would travel to Delhi and Bengaluru often.
According to the Indian Express, his father was unaware that Manoranjan was in Delhi. "Four days ago, he left saying he was going to Bengaluru… I got calls from my friends and relatives about the incident. I tried reaching him out but his phone was not working. I am utterly shocked, but I want to make it clear that he is an honest citizen and a good son. But I condemn his act of entering the Parliament," he said.
He, however, acknowledged that his son was "wrong" and stated that he should be "hanged" if he had committed any wrongdoing for society.
"He is wrong. A child should not do this. If my son has done anything good, of course, I support him, but if he has done something wrong, I strongly condemn it. Let him be hanged if he has done something wrong for society," Devraj said on Wednesday.
There was a huge security breach during Zero Hour in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon after two men, both carrying canisters that emitted yellow smoke, jumped from the visitors' gallery into the Lok Sabha chamber before they were overpowered by the MPs.
Similarly, in another incident, two protestors -- Neelam (42) and Amol (25) -- were detained for protesting outside the Parliament with similar gas canisters and shouting "Tanashahi Nahi Chalegi" (dictatorship will not be allowed), "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Jai Bheem, Jai Bharat."
Amol Shinde
Amol Shinde, a resident of Zari village in Chakur tehsil of Latur, had left his village saying he was going to Delhi to take part in an army recruitment drive, PTI quoted a local police official as saying.
Shinde is a BA graduate and did odd jobs as a daily wager while preparing for police and army recruitment exams, said a police official based in Chakur.
His parents told police that Amol left home on December 9 saying he was going to Delhi for an army recruitment drive. Since he had taken part in such recruitment drives earlier too, his parents did not find it unusual, the official added, reported PTI.
Shinde was not known to be affiliated to any political party or movement, he said.
Neelam
Neelam, the other accused caught from outside the Parliament, is a resident of Ghasso village in Haryana's Jind. Her father runs a sweet shop in Uchana.
Her family members said she had earlier participated in several agitations including the farmers' movement.
Her younger brother said that the family was not aware that she went to Delhi. He said that the family thought she was in Hisar for her studies.
Neelam's brother 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..."
All four accused are in police custody and an investigation is underway.