This Post Is Recently Updated on Dec 14, 2023 @ 22:02 pm by TBB Desk
In the wake of the shocking security breach at the Lok Sabha on December 13, coinciding with the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack, authorities have launched a massive manhunt for Lalit Jha, the alleged mastermind of the incident. The case has invoked sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), reflecting the gravity of the breach.
So far, the police have apprehended five individuals in connection with the breach, but Lalit Jha remains elusive. This breach, involving individuals jumping from the gallery and bursting canisters in the Lok Sabha, led to the suspension of at least eight security personnel, and the Ministry of Home Affairs has initiated an inquiry into the incident.
The arrested individuals, during interrogation, revealed their motivation behind the act was to draw attention to issues in Manipur, unemployment, and farmers’ grievances. Media reports cite police sources stating that Lalit Jha was responsible for choosing the date for the breach and had also confiscated the phones of the four accused prior to the attack, potentially erasing crucial evidence.
The breach saw Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D enter the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery, releasing yellow-colored smoke and chanting slogans, causing chaos and panic within the House. Neelam Azad and Amol Shinde, who protested outside Parliament with colored smoke, were also among those arrested. The police believe Lalit Jha had a meeting in Gurugram before the incident and took possession of the accused’s phones.
Lalit Jha’s involvement came to light after he sent a video of the incident to NGO founder Nilaksha Aich, who described Jha as secretive and not close to him. Aich’s NGO works for tribal education in West Bengal’s Purulia.
The police have established that all the accused were linked with the social media page ‘Bhagat Singh Fan Club’ and had met in Mysuru about 18 months ago. Details emerged about the planning and execution of the breach, including the distribution of colored smoke canisters near India Gate and the hiding of these canisters in shoes to evade security detection.
The fifth arrested individual, Vikram Sharma, a resident of Gurugram, had accommodated the other four before the breach. The incident has sparked a nationwide alert, with agencies collaborating to locate and apprehend Lalit Jha, whose last known location was traced to Rajasthan’s Neemrana.
The Lok Sabha security breach has raised serious questions about the security protocols in one of the country’s most important democratic institutions, leading to a thorough investigation and review of security measures.
