New curbs in UP House after staff finds explosive

Lucknow: The recovery of deadly explosive PETN from the UP Assembly has made the Yogi Adityanath government renew its security related policies.

After the forensic examination revealed that a white powder packet found inside the UP Assembly on Wednesday was actually a deadly explosive called PETN (Pentaeryt-hritol Tetranitrate), the chief minister and the Speaker announced new security measures.

Terming it as a possible terror conspiracy, the chief minister said in the state Assembly on Friday that the packet had been discovered by the cleaning staff on Wednesday and was sent for forensic examination. The white powder had been identified as the deadly PETN that could trigger off deadly explosion if used with a detonator.

The chief minister who convened a high-level meeting on security in view of the development late on Thursday night and again on Friday morning, said, “PETN is a highly dangerous explosive and the packet contained 150 grams of the powder. Experts say that only 500 grams is needed to blow up the Vidhan Sabha. Even the dog squad failed to trace the packet because it does not have any smell,” he said.

The packet, found during the cleaning of the Assembly by the staff, was placed in a packet under the seat in the third row in the section allotted to the Samajwadi Party.

Mr Adityanath also said that this incident could be in connivance with a terrorist or militant group and that the security of the state and the country is paramount. He sought the cooperation of all parties in tightening the security of the Vidhan Sabha.

The Speaker Hriday Narain Dixit announced new security rules for the Assembly complex.

The CM said that police verification of all employees of the state Assembly would now be mandatory. The chief minister also regretted that despite being the state Assembly of the biggest state in the country, the UP Vidhan Sabha did not have a quick response team.