Powerful explosive found in UP Assembly, House recommends NIA probe

In a major security breach, a dangerous plastic explosive was found in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today informed the House, which unanimously recommended an NIA probe into it.

As soon as the House met this morning, the chief minister, who earlier chaired an emergency security meeting, informed that white powder was found wrapped in a paper close to the seat of the Leader of the Opposition Ram Govind Choudhry.

The explosive was found by the cleaning staff on July 12. After the powder was sent for FSL examination, it was found to be a dangerous plastic explosive PETN (Pentaerythritol tetranitrate), he said. 

The dog squad failed to detect the explosive. "Initially it was thought that it was some powder or chemical but after FSL (Forensic Science Lab) report it was found to be PETN, which is high quality Hexogene and plastic explosive," he said.

The quantity of the explosive was 150 grams. According to experts 500 gm of this explosive is enough to



blow up the House, the chief minister said.

He said the explosive was found under the bench, third from where the Leader of Opposition sits.

"The security of the House is our concern. This is part of a dangerous terrorist conspiracy and should be exposed. The state government wants to get an NIA probe done in the matter and police verification of employees and officials working in Vidhan Bhawan," he said and urged the Speaker to take a decision.

Stressing that there should be no compromise on security, the chief minister said joint efforts were needed to ensure this.

It is a "dangerous tendency that the security of the assembly has been breached when the House is in session," he said.

"So far the government was worried about security outside the assembly, and now this has become a more serious matter," he said and appealed to Speaker Hriday Narain Dixit to ensure police verification of the assembly staff because security of over 500 MLAs and MLCs was at stake.