UAPA slapped against 4 accused; hunt on to nab don

New Delhi : Four persons arrested in connection with the security breach in Parliament have been charged under anti-terror law UAPA besides sections of Indian Penal Code, even as raids are being conducted at several places to nab Lalit Jha, suspected to be the key conspirator, police sources said on Thursday. Offences punishable under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act are non-bailable. A Delhi court sent four accused persons to seven days police custody.

An official said the security agencies have not found connections with any terror group so far. The sources said the role of two more persons has also surfaced during investigation, adding all the accused did everything as part of their foolproof plan. Vishal Sharma alias Vickey, in whose house the accused stayed in Gurugram before reaching Parliament, is still under detention.

All the four accused were interrogated at Diplomatic Security Force's office located at Chanakyapuri. Initially, Neelam and Amol were taken to Parliament Street Police station and later, they were shifted to the DSF office. In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack on Wednesday, Sagar and Manoranjan 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 and Neelam sprayed coloured smoke from canisters while shouting "tanashahi nahi chalegi" outside Parliament premises. Names of two organisations have also emerged in the investigation of the Special Cell and their roles are being examined, a senior official said, adding all the accused are giving same answers to the investigation team. "It seems that they had already made preparations as to what to answer when the police interrogate them when they are caught," the official said.

Congress spokesperson M Laxman stated that Manoranjan, who jumped into the main hall from the visitors’ gallery was very close to BJP Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha and had held meetings with him in Mysuru, Madikeri and New Delhi. He was with the BJP IT cell.

35-year-old Manoranjan D, had attended a Budget Session held in the old Parliament building to observe the security protocols at that time and discovered lapses.

Being a teacher, Lalit took the lead and instructed Manoranjan to do a recce of all entry points of the Parliament during the Monsoon Session."In July, Manoranjan came to Delhi and went inside the parliament on a visitor pass issued on the name of an MP. There, he got to know that the frisking of shoes does not happen," the officer privy to the investigations said.