Parliament Attack Row: How Smoke Cans Were Smuggled Breaching Security Protocols?

Amid the ongoing political slugfest over the controversial security breach in Parliament, Sagar Sharma and D Manoranjan the two men who popped yellow smoke canisters inside parliament reportedly opened up about the modus operandi they followed to smuggle the smoke canisters by hoodwinking the layers of stringent security protocols.

Sharma and Manoranjan has been sent to police custody while the other two who popped cans outside Parliament, Neelam Devi and Amol Shinde are expected to be taken to Lucknow to identify the shop that made these shoes, Delhi Police said Thursday evening.

The alleged mastermind, Lalit Jha, was arrested last evening after being on the run for over 48 hours; he had fled to Rajasthan's Naguar before returning to surrender.

How were the canisters smuggled?

According to a report by NDTV, the canisters were smuggled inside cavities cut into the left sole of custom-made sports shoes, or sneakers. It has also been revealed that the soles of the sneakers worn on their left feet were found to have extra padding while a second rubber slip was glued to the bottom in a bid to support the cavities.

As per media reports, Sharma sported a pair of khaki-coloured socks with the shoes, which were reportedly built to order in Lucknow, his home town. Sharma wore light grey shoes while Manoranjan's shoes were a darker grey, the police FIR said.

On the other hand, the inside sole of the shoe worn by Manoranjan on his right foot was also found to have a cavity which was supported with a second rubber slip fixed to the bottom. Manoranjan wore dark blue socks with his shoes.

Police have confiscated the the shoes and socks as evidences for forensic inquiries.

Canisters, documents recovered as well

Besides the shoes and socks, police has also retrieved the canisters as well as documents confirming their identities which these included Aadhaar cards from Lucknow and Mysuru alongside two partly-torn pamphlets.

As per media reports, one of the pamphlets had the phrase 'Jai Hind' in English with a picture of a closed fist, in the colours of the Indian flag, and a slogan in Hindi, while the second had an English slogan on ethnic violence in Manipur.

Used smoke cans were also recovered from outside Parliament, where Neelam Devi and Amol Shinde staged the other half of Wednesday's protest. Four cans and some firecrackers were seized.

Each of the smoke canisters had warning labels cautioning against use in indoor or crowded places, as also against sale to those below 18 years of age. There were strict warnings on how to use the cans, which included the use of goggles or gloves, and to retreat to a safe distance after activation.