On the Parliament Security Breach

Source: This post on the recent Parliament security breach has been created based on the article “Parliament attacks have exposed shameful lack of security preparedness” published in “Indian Express” on 15^th December 2023.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 Internal Security – Linkages between development and spread of extremism.

News: The article discusses the recent Parliament security breach.

What is the security breach incident?

On 13^th December, 22 years after the Parliament attacks in 2001, two people managed to breach the entire security apparatus and intruded into the main hall of the Lok Sabha. They released yellow gas from canisters, before being overpowered by MPs.

Entry pass for the visitors’ gallery, signed by an MP from Mysore, was reportedly found on one of the intruders. The intruders managed to hide tear gas canisters in their shoes and enter the building.

The new Parliament building, inaugurated earlier this year, is believed to be more secure than the earlier one. The security breach is clearly a collective failure of intelligence and security agencies responsible for parliament security.

What steps have been taken?

4 people have been arrested so far and a case under anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was registered against all of them.

The government has also constituted a high-level inquiry committee to find out what had happened and what went wrong.

What should be done?

1. Clear responsibility and accountability need to be fixed for the security breach.
2. An overhaul of the security structure will have to be undertaken.

Question for practice:

A breach of security in places of national importance should be dealt with utmost caution. Discuss in the context of the recent Parliament security breach.