In a major security lapse in the Uttar Pradesh assembly, a suspicious white powder was recovered from the assembly building. The forensic science laboratory (FSL) test revealed that the substance was an explosive.
The powder was wrapped in a polythene cover and was found under the seat number three. Chief marshal of the assembly Manish Chandra has sent a letter to SSP, Lucknow, to register a case in this connection.
It has been confirmed that the substance found was Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN)—even a small quantity of which can trigger a large explosion. PETN was used in the 2011 the explosion that occurred outside Delhi High Court.
The assembly building is highly guarded and hence the presence of such a deadly explosive inside the house is indeed a matter of concern.
The state government has handed over the investigation to the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). It may be recalled that the police recently arrested a suspect identified as Farhan Ahamed from eastern UP district of Deoria for allegedly threatening to blow up the assembly building.
A high level meeting was convened by the chief minister to review the security of the assembly building.
