Mastermind of Parliament Security Breach Identified as Lalit Jha

Lalit Jha, the suspected orchestrator of the Parliament smoke scare, turned himself in to the Delhi Police yesterday. This surrender occurred a day after the apprehension of five individuals in connection with the significant security breach that startled the nation.

Lalit Jha, a resident of Bihar working as a teacher in Kolkata, was missing following a security incident near Parliament. He surrendered at a Kartavya Path police station on Thursday. Five men and a woman, including Jha, face charges under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and sections of the Indian Penal Code.

Inspired by freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, Jha allegedly filmed the group deploying smoke canisters outside Parliament. He shared the videos with an NGO founder to ensure media coverage. Jha, a former general secretary of an NGO run by Nilaksha Aich, aimed to keep the footage secure.

Known as a quiet man, Jha taught local students and had maintained a low profile in Burrabazar, Kolkata. He left the area abruptly two years ago, according to a nearby tea stall owner.

In the incident, Sagar and Manoranjan entered Parliament with smoke bombs using a pass from a BJP MP’s office. They released the smoke canisters in Lok Sabha, causing chaos among MPs. Neelam Devi and Amol Shinde, without a pass, protested outside Parliament, shouting slogans and brandishing smoke canisters before being apprehended.