Security breach in Lok Sabha: Here's what eye witnesses saw

Man jumping from the victor's gallery.

The fright of December 13 returned to haunt Parliament when two persons jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors' gallery on the same day, 22 years later.

The security breach in the Lok Sabha on December 13 triggered a huge ruckus in the Parliament premises, driving the House to be adjourned and the entire area cordoned off.

The incident took place when members were raising matters of urgent public importance and BJP MP Rajendra Agarwal was presiding over the House proceedings.

“Initially we thought someone has fallen, but then we saw another person jumping over the tables. One of them took out something from his shoes and there was smoke. Both of them were caught and action will be taken,” said Agarwal.

Leader of the Opposition Congress in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was present in the Lower House. “The two jumped from the visitors’ gallery and were using gas canisters. All the MPs tried to run away when security personnel caught the miscreants. This has happened on the Parliament attack anniversary and shows security lapses in the new building also,” he said.

Another Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla, who caught hold of the two men who jumped off the visitors’ gallery said the that the duo had something in their hands emitting yellow-coloured smoke.

“I snatched it away and threw it out. This is a major security breach inside the Parliament,” Aujla added.

On the morning of December 13, 2001, five terrorists entered the Parliament House Complex at around 11.40am in a car fitted with forged home ministry sticker on its windshield. Upon suspicion, the car was forced to turn back.

The terrorists got down and opened fire. This raised an alarm and all building gates were closed. At the time, over 100 MPs were present inside the Parliament. The firing lasted for over 30 minutes, leaving five terrorists, eight security personnel and a gardener dead, and 15 injured.