UP Assembly explosive case: Govt requests Home Ministry to probe further

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday requested the Home Ministry to undertake a further investigation of the explosive material found inside the state assembly in Lucknow.

National Investigation Agency (NIA) sources reveal that as soon as the Home Ministry issues a formal order for it to investigate, the NIA will re-register the case and begin a probe from all angles.

On Friday, security was beefed up at the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly after explosive powder Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN), was found inside the Assembly complex.

Now, entry has been prohibited to those who do not have a pass. Everyone entering the secretariat is being thoroughly checked.

According to some of the Assembly members, had the security drill been in place well before, then incidents like the one that had surfaced on Thursday would not have happened.

Everyone needs to be supportive to ensure that the Assembly is secure from any threat, the members said.

Meanwhile, a First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against unknown persons on Saturday in connection with the case.

The case has been registered under Unlawful (Activities) Prevention 2004, and Explosive Substances Act 1908.

Uttar Pradesh's Inspector General of the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), Aseem Arun has said the discovery of the explosive powder- PETN- hinted at the possibility of a terrorist activity.

"We will scan through the CCTV footage and will do a detailed investigation of the spot today," Aseem Arun said.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has called for a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe.

"The packet of the explosive was found under the chair of the Opposition's leader. It was 150 gm of PETN. 500 gm of PETN is enough to blow the whole Assembly off. This shows the severity of the situation. I suggest that everybody present in the Assembly should be investigated by the police and that the NIA should investigate into the matter," he said.

"It's unfortunate that the largest Assembly of the country doesn't have a QRT," he added.

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.

Earlier, 60 grams of suspicious white powder was found in the UP Assembly during an ongoing session, which was later sent to a forensic lab for testing.