New Delhi: A day after the security breach at the parliament’s Lower House on December 13, reports have pointed to a general laxity surrounding the parliament’s security, with a house panel lying defunct for years and a top post vacant for a month.
The Hindu has reported that the 17th house committee on security at the parliament complex has not been reconstituted this time.
MPs have also noted that there is a “political bias” at play when it comes to issuing visitors’ passes. The two men who stormed the Lower House yesterday had been given passed by a Bharatiya Janata Party MP, Pratap Simha. “BJP MPs can bring any number of people they want,” Congress’s T.N. Prathapan said.
Security breach! #Parliament pic.twitter.com/YZhPg1Kv97
— Satish Acharya (@satishacharya) December 14, 2023
The Lok Sabha secretary general has, in the meantime, written to the Union home ministry on the fact that new protocols and an overall review of the security of the Lok Sabha will be undertaken in the light of the attack, a report has said.
Speaker Om Birla had called a meeting after the breach, in which House leaders had suggested that full-body scanners, glass walls in front of visitors’ galleries and security guards be placed.
Meanwhile, a preliminary inquiry has it that the post of the joint secretary of security has been vacant for over a month, after IPS officer Raghubir Lal was transferred to Uttar Pradesh.
Economic Times has reported, quoting unnamed sources, that the preliminary inquiry has also unveiled “a number of issues,” including a grouse levelled by the parliament security staff that the number of visitor gallery passes issued on MPs’ recommendation has increased recently.
Four held under UAPA
Four out of the six people who were behind the parliament breach have been held and have been charged under sections 16 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
Indian Express has reported that they have also been charged under sections 153 (want only giving provocation with an intent to cause riot), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 452 (trespass), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servants from discharge of his duty) of the Indian Penal Code.
Reports said that Sagar Sharma from Uttar Pradesh, Manoranjan from Karnataka, Amol Shinde from Maharashtra, Neelam Azad and Vishal Sharma from Haryana, were upset over the lack of jobs and the rise in prices. The Hindu has reported that none were affiliated to any political outfit.
Indian Express has reported that the five were between 23 and 42 years old. One of them had been part of the farmers’ protests and the wrestlers’ agitation. One of them, Neelam, had three degrees and had cleared the National Eligibility Test.