Powerful plastic explosive found in UP Assembly

​Lucknow: In a major security breach, a powerful plastic explosive was found in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday informed the House, which unanimously recommended an NIA probe into it. Uttar Pradesh Police swung into action and registered an FIR against unknown persons after recovery of the explosive.

As soon as the House met on Friday morning, Adityanath, who earlier chaired an emergency security meeting, informed that white powder was found wrapped in a paper close to the seat of the Leader of the Opposition Ram Govind Choudhary. The explosive was found by the cleaning staff on July 12. The quantity of the explosive was 150 grams.

According to experts, 500 gm of this explosive is enough to blow up the House, the chief minister said. After the powder was sent for FSL examination, it wa­s found to be a dangerous pl­as­tic explosive PETN (Pentaerythritol tetranitrate), he said. The dog squad failed to detect the explosive kept under the cushion of a seat.

"Initially it was thought that it was some powder or chemical but after FSL (Forensic Science Lab) report it was found to be PETN, which is high quality Hexogene and plastic explosive," he said. PETN is one of the most dangerous plastic explosives available in the black market and preferred by militants as the colourless crystals easily surpass security checks.

Adityanath said the explosive was found under the bench, third from where the Leader of Opposition sits. Additional Director General (Law and Order) Anand Kumar later explained to mediapersons that for explosion three things - explosive, detonator and power pack (source of power) - are needed.