New Delhi: A major security breach took place at the Lok Sabha on Wednesday where two men jumped down the visitors’ gallery into the chamber and opened canisters that emitted yellow smoke, triggering a security scare among the parliamentarians.

The two protestors, identified as Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan, are now in the custody of Delhi Police.

Sagar Sharma’s family said he left home a few days ago to attend a “protest” in Delhi, reported news agency PTI. Sharma is a resident of Ramnagar in Lucknow. 

Rani Sharma, Sharma’s mother, said, “He used to drive an e-rickshaw. We are four people (in the family). My husband works as a carpenter…He had gone two days ago. He had told me that he is going with his friends, as there is some work.”

#WATCH | “He used to drive an e-rickshaw. We are four people (in the family). My husband works as a carpenter…He had gone two days ago. He had told me that he is going with his friends, as there is some work…,” says Rani Sharma, mother of accused Sagar who jumped down from… https://t.co/iwpztdumTZ pic.twitter.com/VgjTlQKuwM

— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2023

“We have called Sagar’s father Roshan Lal, a carpenter, to ask about his son,” PTI reported quoting SHO of Manak Nagar police station Shiv Mangal Singh.

Meanwhile, Manoranjan’s father acknowledged that his son was “wrong” and stated that he should be “hanged” if he had committed any wrongdoing for society.

“He is wrong. A child should not do this. If my son has done anything good, of course, I support him, but if he has done something wrong, I strongly condemn it. Let him be hanged if he has done something wrong for society,” Devraj, father of Manoranjan, said on Wednesday.

#WATCH | Mysuru, Karnataka | Devraj, father of Manoranjan who caused a security breach inside the Lok Sabha today, says, “This is wrong, nobody should do anything like that…” pic.twitter.com/EaCMxos6uB

— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2023

There was a huge security breach during Zero Hour in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon after two men, both carrying canisters that emitted yellow smoke, jumped from the visitors’ gallery into the Lok Sabha chamber before they were overpowered by the MPs.

Similarly, in another incident, two protestors — Neelam (42) and Amol (25) — were detained for protesting outside the Parliament with similar gas canisters and shouting “Tanashahi Nahi Chalegi” (dictatorship will not be allowed), “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Jai Bheem, Jai Bharat.” 

Amol Shinde, a resident of Zari village in Chakur tehsil of Latur, had left his village saying he was going to Delhi to take part in an army recruitment drive, PTI quoted a local police official as saying.

Shinde is a BA graduate and did odd jobs as a daily wager while preparing for police and army recruitment exams, said a police official based in Chakur.

His parents told police that Amol left home on December 9 saying he was going to Delhi for an army recruitment drive. Since he had taken part in such recruitment drives earlier too, his parents did not find it unusual, the official added, reported PTI.

#WATCH | Delhi: Two protestors, a man and a woman have been detained by Police in front of Transport Bhawan who were protesting with colour smoke. The incident took place outside the Parliament: Delhi Police pic.twitter.com/EZAdULMliz

— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2023

Shinde was not known to be affiliated to any political party or movement, he said.

Meanwhile, the younger brother of Neelam, the other accused caught from outside the Parliament, said that the family was not aware that she went to Delhi. He said that the family thought she was in Hisar for her studies.

Neelam’s brother said, “…We didn’t even know that she went to Delhi. All we knew was that she was in Hisar for her studies…She had visited us the day before yesterday and returned yesterday. She has qualified BA, MA, B.Ed, M.Ed, CTET, M.Phil and NET. She had raised the issue of unemployment several times and had also participated in farmers’ protests…”

#WATCH | Jind, Haryana | Younger brother of one of the accused – Neelam – who was caught from outside the Parliament, says, “…We didn’t even know that she went to Delhi. All we knew was that she was in Hisar for her studies…She had visited us the day before yesterday and… pic.twitter.com/tTtYm3tXfP

— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2023

All four accused are in police custody and an investigation is underway.