Lalit Jha, the alleged mastermind behind the Parliament smoke scare, surrendered to the Delhi Police yesterday, a day after five others were arrested following the massive security breach that shocked the nation.
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How the security was breached and who all were involved
In a major security breach, Sagar Sharma (26) and Manoranjan D (34) on Wednesday afternoon, jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released coloured smoke from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by some MPs. Around the same time, Amol Shinde (25) and Neelam Devi (37) sprayed coloured smoke from canisters while shouting “tanashahi nahi chalegi” outside Parliament premises.
Lets Know who is Lalit Jha is
- Lalit Jha had been missing since the incident. He is from Bihar but was working as a teacher in Kolkata, the police said. On Thursday, he turned himself in at a police station at Kartavya Path near Parliament.
- Five men and a woman have been charged under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and sections of the Indian Penal Code.
- Jha was inspired by legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, the police said. He allegedly shot videos of the accused deploying smoke canisters outside the parliament and handed over the videos to an NGO founder to ensure they get media coverage. The alleged mastermind was a general secretary of an NGO run by Nilaksha Aich, the founder to whom he had sent videos of the incident to ensure they were “safe”.
- Lalit Jha is described as a quiet man. He used to teach local students. A few years ago he came to Burrabazar in Kolkata alone and kept a low profile, he suddenly left the area two years ago, a tea stall owner in the neighbourhood told PTI.
- On Wednesday, two men — Sagar and Manoranjan — smuggled smoke bombs into parliament after securing entry on a pass issued by a BJP MP’s office. They jumped into Lok Sabha from the visitors’ gallery and set the smoke canisters off in the house, as MPs scurried around trying to catch them. Two others, Neelam Devi and Amol Shinde, who were unable to get a pass, held a protest outside the parliament building, shouting slogans and waving smoke canisters before they were caught.
Manoranjan D, Sagar Sharma, Amol Dhanraj Shinde, Neelam Devi in Police custody
On Thursday, Delhi’s Patiala House Court granted seven days custodial remand of the other four accused persons arrested in connection with the Parliament security breach matter. The police had sought their custodial interrogation for 15 days.
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