New Delhi: The Delhi Police have apprehended a man who breached the security cordon and drove into the Delhi Legislative Assembly complex Monday afternoon.
The man, driving an SUV bearing an Uttar Pradesh registration number, caused a security scare when he broke through the cordon at gate number 2 at around 2:10 pm Monday.
“The speeding driver proceeded towards the office of Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta, where he placed a flower bouquet near the porch before retreating,” said a police official aware of the matter, adding that gate number 2 is manned by the CRPF.
Having launched a manhunt for the person, police apprehended him and seized his vehicle from Roop Nagar at around 4:15 pm. He was apprehended along with two other persons.
The man has been identified as 37-year-old Sarabjit. Superintendent of Police (Pilibhit) Sukriti Madhav told ThePrint that the vehicle in question bears a Pilibhit registration.
Soon after the security breach Monday, Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha arrived at the Delhi Assembly. Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Anil Shukla and Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Ravindra Yadav were already at the spot, along with teams from the Delhi Police Crime Branch and the bomb squad.
The CRPF has been deployed inside the complex. While police maintain that no suspicious object was found in the bouquet, a probe is now underway to determine the sequence of events. Police are combing CCTV footage to ascertain the route taken by the man.
In a statement issued Monday evening, DCP (North) Raja Banthia said, “On Monday afternoon, at around 2:10 PM, a white-coloured Tata Sierra bearing registration number UP26AZ8090 forcefully entered the premises of the Delhi Assembly through Gate No 2.”
“One individual, aged approximately 35 to 40 years, alighted from the vehicle and proceeded towards the porch area carrying a bouquet and a garland (mala) of marigold flowers. It is pertinent to mention that the Vidhan Sabha was not in session at the time,” the statement added. The statement also said that the man in question drove the vehicle in a dangerous manner with an apparent intent to run over security personnel on duty.
Upon being challenged by security staff, he fled the spot in the same vehicle.
A case has been registered at Civil Lines police station under appropriate sections of law, including attempt to murder, criminal trespass with preparation to commit offence, use of criminal force against a public servant, and Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, along with other relevant provisions pertaining to obstruction of public servants in discharge of duty, read the statement issued by the DCP.
This is an updated version of the report
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)