• The Delhi Police has registered a case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the Parliament security breach, officials said on Thursday, reports PTI

The entry of two youths into the Lok Sabha with smoke-filled canisters was on Wednesday described as an “unthinkable” breach of security that has exposed the glaring gaps in the new Parliament building.

“It is unthinkable how they managed to carry smoke sticks and break into the Lok Sabha despite security checks and scanners inside the building. It is a serious security breach considering that Parliament is shielded by four layers of security,” an Intelligence Bureau official told The Telegraph.

Teams of Delhi police, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, and Parliament Security Service staff are in charge of the complex, he said.

The two youths who entered Parliament have been identified as Sagar Sharma, 32, a resident of Lucknow, and D. Manoranjan, 35, who hails from Mysore and holds a bachelor’s degree of engineering in computer science.

The two others who protested at the same time outside the Parliament gate
are Neelam Azad from Jind in Haryana and Amol Shinde, 25, from Latur in Maharashtra.

Sleuths of Delhi police’s anti-terror cell, which is leading the probe, said they had so far found no link of the four with any group, organisation, or political party.

PTI said Neelam, who is in her late 30s, had told the police that she was studying for competitive exams. She had done her MA, BEd, MEd, CTET, MPhil and cleared NET and was agitated about the lack of jobs.

Manoranjan’s father Devaraj told journalists in Mysore his son has always wanted to do something good for society. “He organises people to remove garbage and help the needy in this area. He is not the type who would harm society,” Devaraj said.

An engineering graduate, Manoranjan has been helping his father with his farm.

Devaraj said his son was an avid reader and a “good boy”.

“He used to read Swami Vivekananda, and about great thinkers…. He has been a good boy for the society and for the family. He is not someone who would do something bad,” Devaraj said.

“Other than his desire to do something good for the society he doesn’t have any political affiliations,” the father added.

Manoranjan had left home four days ago, saying he was going to Bangalore.

“The motive behind their action is still unclear. One of them told us that he was very disillusioned with the prevailing situation in the country,” said a police officer who is part of the probe team.

“The four have been linked to the conspiracy besides Lalit Jha, at whose home in Gurgaon they stayed. All of them have been arrested and raids are on to nab the sixth person who was part of the same group,” the police officer said.

Neelam, the officer said, had participated in the farmers’ protest in 2020 against the Centre’s three farm laws.

“She is not linked to any political party,” the police officer said.

Another police officer said: “A preliminary probe has revealed that Sagar Sharma, D. Manoranjan, Neelam Devi and Amol Shinde knew each other. They had become friends on social media and hatched the plan.”

But Neelam and Amol claimed they had no links with Manoranjan and Sagar, the officer said.