It was the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack and Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun had warned that he will shake the foundations of Parliament on or before December 13. Despite preparedness for these reasons, two men managed to dodge the layered security of one of the most highly secured places in India, and to a bigger astonishment, they were not very trained or skilled but still could challenge our security system.
What were the reasons for the same? Let’s delve into the details.
New Parliament is visitors’ spot
Since the day the new Parliament has been inaugurated, visitors are coming and going to have a glimpse of it. Hundreds of visitors come on a single day whereas the staff strength is limited.
Students come in buses and passes and identity cards of each of them are checked.
Scrutiny methodology
How do you think security is maintained in the Parliament? Very similar to the way it is done at any historical monument. ID check, pass check, scanner that scans your belongings, and metal detectors that are placed in all malls and everywhere for random checking.
Shoes are NEVER checked and those canisters were supposedly made up of plastic so the metal detector couldn’t scan it.
Architect issue in the new building?
There are a total of six visitor galleries situated right above the MPs seat and the front-most row is barely 10 and a half feet above. Notably, this height has been reduced in the new parliament which makes it easy for the visitors to access the MPs’ section.
After this incident, MPs have suggested to install a glass in front of the gallery.
125 security officers were absent
Usually, 301 security officers are deployed inside the Parliament but on Wednesday, only 176 were present. However, the reason for 125 officers not being there on the spot has not been clarified. But if we see it in mathematics, 42% of the security remained absent which is a major concern.
Pass in the name of Pratap Simha
The officials said, that despite less number of staff and architect design issues, the breach couldn’t have happened if the intruders had not granted visitor’s passes in the name of Mysore’s MP Pratap Simha.
