Sovereignty Under Siege continues

The terrorists, once inside the complex, drove undetected and unhindered along the circular edifice of the building, in a clockwise direction, at breakneck speed, until they ran into a dead end created by nearly 2.5-metre-high wall. The wall stood about 20 metres ahead of gate eleven, the entry point to the parliament precincts meant exclusively for the vice president (VP) of India, who is the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The VP’s car was parked in the porch, and his security detail and driver were waiting for him to come out.

Finding themselves in a cul-de-sac—something they had not anticipated—the terrorists had to bring their car to a screeching halt.
The terrorists, who presumably must have received exhaustive briefings about the layout of the Parliament House from their handlers, did not seem to be aware of the wall. The terrorist driving the car tried to reverse out of the dead end and in his nervous haste hit the front right side of the VP’s car.

The VP’s chauffeur, Shekhar, who was standing close by, shouted at the driver and with SI Shyam Singh, Assistant Sub-inspector (ASI) Jeet Ram and ASI Nanak Chand of the VP’s security detail, almost simultaneously and instinctively, rushed to the offending vehicle. It was then that the five occupants of the car emerged from its four doors and opened fire. ASI Nanak Chand was hit and died on the spot, while ASI Jeet Ram was severely injured. Dressed in battle fatigues, the assailants looked like army commandos—well built, carrying AKs, backpacks slung over their shoulders, and ready to do or die.

To be continued……….