Up Assembly Explosives

The Uttar Pradesh government has said the powdery substance detected in the state Assembly has tested positive for explosive PETN in preliminary examination at the state forensic science laboratory in Lucknow. It also clarified that no sample has been sent to the forensic science laboratory in Agra.

Security was tightened at the UP legislature complex and "all anti-sabotage" measures put in place, police said today, a day after the UP government recommended an NIA probe into the recovery of an explosive material in the state assembly.

The PETN (Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate) explosive found lying under the seat of a Samajwadi Party legislator inside the UP Assembly is one of the most dangerous plastic explosives available in the black market and preferred by terrorists as the colourless crystals easily surpass security checks.

Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, today called for an investigation by the country's top anti-terror agency NIA after white powder later identified as an explosive was found in the state assembly. "It is apparent that there has been shararat (mischief) and such people should be exposed," he said in the assembly.

The police has beefed up security ahead of the second phase of polls, after the recovery of a large cache of explosives from Maoist-affected Gariyaband district of Chhattisgarh.

The Uttar Pradesh government has said the powdery substance detected in the state Assembly has tested positive for explosive PETN in preliminary examination at the state forensic science laboratory in Lucknow. It also clarified that no sample has been sent to the forensic science laboratory in Agra.

Security was tightened at the UP legislature complex and "all anti-sabotage" measures put in place, police said today, a day after the UP government recommended an NIA probe into the recovery of an explosive material in the state assembly.

The PETN (Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate) explosive found lying under the seat of a Samajwadi Party legislator inside the UP Assembly is one of the most dangerous plastic explosives available in the black market and preferred by terrorists as the colourless crystals easily surpass security checks.

Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, today called for an investigation by the country's top anti-terror agency NIA after white powder later identified as an explosive was found in the state assembly. "It is apparent that there has been shararat (mischief) and such people should be exposed," he said in the assembly.

The police has beefed up security ahead of the second phase of polls, after the recovery of a large cache of explosives from Maoist-affected Gariyaband district of Chhattisgarh.