150 gm-powder packet left inside House was PETN: UP CM Yogi Adityanath

Lucknow: UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has sought a probe by the National Investigation Agency after forensic examination revealed that a white powder packet found inside the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday was actually a deadly explosive called PETN (Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate).

As soon as the state Assembly convened on Friday, the Chief Minister told the members that the white powder had been identified as the deadly PETN. The Union home ministry has sought a report from the state government.

Terming it as a possible terror conspiracy, the Chief Minister said that the packet had been discovered by the cleaning staff on Wednesday and was sent for forensic examination.

The forensic report that came in on Thursday night confirmed that the white powder was PETN that could trigger off deadly explosion if used with a detonator.

A little before midnight, the Chief Minister convened a high level meeting on security in view of the development.

“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 was found during the cleaning of the Assembly by the staff. It was placed under the seat in the third row in the section allotted to the Samajwadi Party.

The Chief Minister said this incident could be in connivance with a terrorist or militant group and that the security of the state and the country is paramount.