Alleged mastermind’s kin ‘shocked’ over role in Parliament security breach-

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Alleged mastermind's kin 'shocked' over role in Parliament security breach-


By PTI

KOLKATA: Shambhu Jha, the elder brother of Lalit Mohan Jha, the alleged mastermind behind the Parliament security breach, expressed shock, stating that the entire family is still in a state of disbelief.

Lalit was arrested in New Delhi on Thursday evening. Accompanied by an individual, Lalit reached the Kartavya Path police station in the national capital, where he was handed over to the special cell.

“We don’t know how he got involved in all this. He always stayed away from trouble. He was a calm and quiet kid since childhood and was very introverted. We knew he was involved with NGOs and, apart from being a private tutor, we are really shocked to see his images on television channels,” Shambhu told reporters.

Since Wednesday night, Shambhu’s phone has not stopped ringing, with both police and relatives inquiring about the whereabouts of Jha. “We last saw him on December 10 when we left for our hometown in Bihar. He came with us to see us off at Sealdah station. The next day he called us and said he was going to New Delhi for some personal work. That was the last time we spoke with him,” he said.

ALSO READ | Parliament security breach: Bundles of contradictions and where does it lead?

Neighbours of Lalit were surprised to see his images on news channels, recalling him as a reserved individual who seldom engaged with the community at Burrabazar in Kolkata. The family later shifted to Baguiati in North 24 Parganas district.

Papun Shaw, a tea stall owner at Rabindra Sarani in the Burrabazar area, the business district of the city, identified Lalit as a ‘teacher’ who disappeared two years ago.

Shaw said, “He was known as a teacher, used to teach local students. A few years ago, he came to the area and was living alone. He hardly used to interact with locals. At times, he would have tea at my stall. He used to keep a very low profile. He suddenly left the area two years ago and never returned.”

In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack on Wednesday, two persons—Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D—jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by the MPs.

ALSO READ | Security breach: Accused smuggled smoke canisters inside cavity of shoe soles

Around the same time, two other accused—Amol Shinde and Neelam Devi—sprayed coloured gas from canisters while shouting “tanashahi nahi chalegi” outside Parliament premises. 

Police said the four were part of a group of six people who planned the incident. They had allegedly helped Lalit, thought to be the brain behind the security breach plan.

According to an official privy to the probe, all six joined a Bhagat Singh fan page on Facebook after coming in touch with each other on social media.

Lalit, Sagar and Maoranjan had about a year ago met in Mysuru where they made a plan to barge into the Parliament. They later added Neelam and Amol to the plan. 

Lalit took the lead and instructed Manoranjan to do a recce of all entry points of the Parliament during the Monsoon Session, the official said.

ALSO READ | Security breach brought focus on unemployment issue: Opposition MPs Follow channel on WhatsApp

KOLKATA: Shambhu Jha, the elder brother of Lalit Mohan Jha, the alleged mastermind behind the Parliament security breach, expressed shock, stating that the entire family is still in a state of disbelief.

Lalit was arrested in New Delhi on Thursday evening. Accompanied by an individual, Lalit reached the Kartavya Path police station in the national capital, where he was handed over to the special cell.

“We don’t know how he got involved in all this. He always stayed away from trouble. He was a calm and quiet kid since childhood and was very introverted. We knew he was involved with NGOs and, apart from being a private tutor, we are really shocked to see his images on television channels,” Shambhu told reporters.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

Since Wednesday night, Shambhu’s phone has not stopped ringing, with both police and relatives inquiring about the whereabouts of Jha. “We last saw him on December 10 when we left for our hometown in Bihar. He came with us to see us off at Sealdah station. The next day he called us and said he was going to New Delhi for some personal work. That was the last time we spoke with him,” he said.

ALSO READ | Parliament security breach: Bundles of contradictions and where does it lead?

Neighbours of Lalit were surprised to see his images on news channels, recalling him as a reserved individual who seldom engaged with the community at Burrabazar in Kolkata. The family later shifted to Baguiati in North 24 Parganas district.

Papun Shaw, a tea stall owner at Rabindra Sarani in the Burrabazar area, the business district of the city, identified Lalit as a ‘teacher’ who disappeared two years ago.

Shaw said, “He was known as a teacher, used to teach local students. A few years ago, he came to the area and was living alone. He hardly used to interact with locals. At times, he would have tea at my stall. He used to keep a very low profile. He suddenly left the area two years ago and never returned.”

In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack on Wednesday, two persons—Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D—jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by the MPs.

ALSO READ | Security breach: Accused smuggled smoke canisters inside cavity of shoe soles

Around the same time, two other accused—Amol Shinde and Neelam Devi—sprayed coloured gas from canisters while shouting “tanashahi nahi chalegi” outside Parliament premises. 

Police said the four were part of a group of six people who planned the incident. They had allegedly helped Lalit, thought to be the brain behind the security breach plan.

According to an official privy to the probe, all six joined a Bhagat Singh fan page on Facebook after coming in touch with each other on social media.

Lalit, Sagar and Maoranjan had about a year ago met in Mysuru where they made a plan to barge into the Parliament. They later added Neelam and Amol to the plan. 

Lalit took the lead and instructed Manoranjan to do a recce of all entry points of the Parliament during the Monsoon Session, the official said.

ALSO READ | Security breach brought focus on unemployment issue: Opposition MPs Follow channel on WhatsApp



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