Parliament Security Breach: Sixth Accused Arrested As Probe Intensifies — Top Points

One more accused has been arrested in connection with the parliament security lapse that took place on the anniversary of the parliament terror attack on Dec 13.

Parliament Security Breach Case: In a fresh development, police have arrested one more accused in the parliament security lapse incident. According to ANI, the accused will be shortly produced before the concerned judge of Delhi's Patiala House Court. This is the sixth arrest in the case. Other accused -- Sagar Sharma, Neelam Devi, Manoranjan D, Amol Shinde and Lalit Jha have already been nabbed by the police.

On Dec 13, as the nation mourned and remembered those who lost lives during the Parliament terror attack in 2001, Sagar Sharma jumped from the visitor's gallery in the Lok Sabha and ran towards the chair. Meanwhile, his accomplice Manoranjan released yellow smoke from the gas cannisters he was carrying filling the chamber with coloured smoke. While the chaos shook the House, the other two -- Neelam and Amol -- release coloured smoke outside the complex and shouted "tanashahi nahi chalegi" slogans. All four of them were arrested on the same day.

Mastermind Lalit Jha fled the spot with their mobile phones but later surrendered a day later (Thursday).

 

Top Points On This Big Story So Far

• According to police officials, reported PTI, the five accused who were arrested on Dec 13 had planned to explore self-immolation and distribution of pamphlets before settling for the Lok Sabha action plan. Police said they wanted their message to the government to be impactful and first thought of immolating themselves by covering their bodies with fireproof gel but dropped this idea.


• Meanwhile, the Delhi Police's Special Cell, which is investigating the case, is planning to record the statement of BJP MP Pratap Simha, who had authorised the visitor passes for the two men (Sagar and Manoranjan) who breached the security to enter the House, the news agency reported.


• Police have also detained Vicky Sharma and his wife who sheltered the accused in Gurugram. Also, cousins Mahesh Kumwat and Kailash are being questioned by police as they allegedly helped Jha to escape from the crime scene to Nagaur, Rajasthan.


• Late on Friday, the probe teams took the accused to various places where they met and conspired the act. Police are also mulling to seek Parliament's permission to recreate the entire breach.


• The police produced the accused before Delhi's Patiala House Court and they have been sent to seven-day police custody.


• Police have said that the mastermind of the attack, Lalit Jha revealed they all wanted to create anarchy in the country to force to government to meet their demands, reported PTI. Police told this to the Patiala House court during the hearing. 


• Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday that unemployment and inflation are the reasons behind the lapse in Parliament security. He further said that the youth is not getting employment because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies.   


• The family members of Lalit Mohan Jha, the alleged mastermind, are still in a state of shock and disbelief over the incident. Jha’s father, Devanand, said, "I don’t know how this happened. His name was never featured in any criminal case in the past. He has been a very good student since childhood," reported PTI.