Mastermind Behind Parliament Breach Arrested: Lalit Mohan Jha Surrenders To Delhi Police

Lalit Mohan Jha, identified as the key orchestrator of the Parliament security breach, has been apprehended by the Delhi Police following his reported surrender at the Kartavya Path Police station on Thursday evening. Jha, hailing from Kolkata and employed as a teacher, managed to evade capture initially after fleeing the scene, having recorded a video of the incident.

The security breach, a significant incident, involved Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D jumping into the Lok Sabha chamber, releasing colored smoke and shouting slogans during Zero Hour. Simultaneously, Amol Shinde and Neelam Devi engaged in similar activities outside the Parliament premises. Jha, having participated in the breach with the four associates, took their mobile phones with him when they received only two passes for Parliament entry.

Upon fleeing to Nagaur in Rajasthan by bus, Jha met two friends and spent the night in a hotel. Realizing that the police were actively searching for him, he decided to return to Delhi by bus, leading to his subsequent arrest after an extensive manhunt. Delhi Police reportedly contacted Neelaksh Aish, the founder of an NGO, for additional information about Jha, who is said to be associated with a Kolkata-based NGO.

Jha, who recorded a video of the slogans and smoke release, sent it to Aish immediately after the incident. Multiple teams from the Delhi Police Special Cell were involved in the pursuit of Jha, with a team already stationed in Kolkata. Notably, Jha's arrest coincides with the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack.

Meanwhile, the other four accused - Sagar Sharma, Manoranjan D, Amol Shinde, and Neelam Devi - were granted seven days of custodial remand by Delhi's Patiala House Court in connection with the security breach. They face charges under the stringent anti-terror law UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act), along with sections of the Indian Penal Code.

In court, the Delhi Police asserted that the breach was a well-planned act of terrorism, accusing the individuals of trying to incite fear. Additional sections related to terrorism and conspiracy were added under UAPA. The police argued for the necessity of custodial interrogation to uncover the motives behind the incident and investigate the creation of special shoes in Lucknow, suggesting the need for probes in Mumbai, Mysore, and Lucknow.

Furthermore, it was revealed that the accused carried a pamphlet declaring Prime Minister Modi as a missing person, offering a reward from the Swiss Bank for anyone who found him. The accused portrayed the Prime Minister as a proclaimed offender. Influenced by revolutionary Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Jha and the other accused expressed motivation to draw the country's attention to various societal issues during interrogation. Issues such as the farmers' protest, ethnic conflict in Manipur, and unemployment were cited as reasons for their actions.