Security officers stand guard at a checkpoint outside the Indian parliament in New Delhi, India, Dec 13, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

NEW DELHI - A major security breach took place inside the Indian parliament on Wednesday after two men carrying smoke canisters ran into the lower house of the parliament (locally called Lok Sabha), officials said.

TV footage from the parliament showed one man, in a dark blue shirt, leaping across desks to evade being caught, and another was in the visitors' gallery spraying yellow smoke while the proceedings were going on. Both men were overpowered by security staff and the lawmakers.

On Dec 13, 2001, six police personnel, two parliament security personnel and a gardener were killed during an attack on the Indian parliament

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"The smoke could have been toxic. It could even have been smoke bombs, you don't know. This is a serious breach of security especially on Dec. 13, the day when parliament was attacked in 2001," Congress party lawmaker Karti Chidambaram who was inside the house told the media.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not inside the parliament when the breach occurred. He was in the central state of Madhya Pradesh to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of the new chief minister of the state.

Following the incident security has been beefed up outside the parliament.

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On Dec 13, 2001, six police personnel, two parliament security personnel and a gardener were killed during an attack on the Indian parliament. All five attackers were also gunned down.