Indian parliament holds silence for victims

India’s parliament in New Delhi today stood in silence in memory of six security officers and a gardener killed in a suicidal terrorist attack on the legislative building.

‘‘This is not an attack on parliament only, but on the very freedom of the country,’’ GMC Balayogi, speaker of the lower house of parliament, said in a short statement.

‘‘Such attacks reinforce our dedication to fight the evil of terrorism. Let us rededicate ourselves to protect the integrity and sovereignty of the country.’’

The house, called the Lok Sabha, sent its condolences to the families of those killed, standing in silence for a minute before adjourning until Tuesday.

The upper house was to do the same, after a message from Vice President Krishan Kant, whose security detail suffered most of the casualties in yesterday’s attack.

India’s parliament traditionally adjourns in condolence when someone connected to the chamber, or a prominent personality, dies. The legislature will not meet again until Tuesday, because Monday is a holiday marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Leaders of the political parties agreed at a meeting with Mr Balayogi to give payments to the families of the government employees who were killed, and to consider arming the security guards inside the parliament building. One of the guards killed was unarmed.

Police conducted raids across the city and made several arrests following the attack on the seat of government of the world’s largest democracy, news reports said. There was no indication whether those questioned had anything to do with the attack.

Security cameras at the gate by which the gunmen entered in an official-looking car were also to be reviewed it was reported.