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The National Investigative Agency (NIA) on Saturday began a probe into the discovery of high-grade PETN explosive inside the Uttar Pradesh assembly. Officials informed that the NIA team arrived here late on Friday and was immediately briefed about the case.
The NIA officials, other than visiting the spot where the Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate explosive was discovered on Thursday evening, were also likely to grill the security staff and agencies of the state police responsible for security of the Vidhan Sabha.
The NIA team will also question the House marshals and other security staff along with janitors and others who has access to the exclusive area, near the seat of Leader of Opposition.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called for a high-level meeting on Friday over the issue of security in and around Vidhan Sabha after some suspicious white substance was found during a session.
The Home Ministry has been urged by the UP government to investigate into the incident which the UP CM called a “dangerous terror conspiracy”, through NIA.
About 150 gm of the white powdery explosive PETN (Pentaerythritol tetranitrate) was found wrapped in a paper close to the seat of the Leader of the Opposition Ram Govind Choudhary on Wednesday.
An Anti Terrorism Squad team on Saturday combed the area in and around the UP assembly. It had also conducted an extensive security check-up of the premises on 14 July.
Speaking to media, Prabhakar Chaudhary SP, ATS, said the area is being “surveyed according to security plan so that team will be ready for every situation.”
The Lucknow Fire department conducted a mock drill at the assembly as well.
He informed that packets of pan masala etc. were found at many places. A packet with magnesium sulphate has also been seized and will be sent for test if need be.
The quantity of the explosive was 150 grams. According to experts, 500 gm of this explosive is enough to blow up the House, the CM said.
Additional Director General (Law and Order) Anand Kumar later told reporters that for an explosion, three things are needed – explosive, detonator and power pack (source of power). “Here only explosive has been found,” Kumar said.
He said a probe is on in the matter and CCTV footage will be studied.
Uttar Pradesh Police swung into action and registered an FIR against unknown persons under various sections of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and IPC Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 121A (conspiring to wage war).
The CM later met with Principal Secretary, Home, Arvind Kumar and DGP Sulkhan Singh, directing officials to review security of the assembly, according to Times of India.
The CM stressed that a “strong security system must be established” since this could be a “terror conspiracy”.
Implementing strict measures for lawmakers to follow during assembly sessions, the UP CM said they “must keep their mobile phones on silent as the noise breaks the seriousness of discussions and they must jot down notes”. He added that bags and mobile phones must be kept outside the house.
Security personnel were seen manning the area around the Vidhan Sabha on Friday.
The UP Assembly session began this week when the Yogi Adityanath-led government presented its first budget.
(With inputs from ANI.)
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