Uttar Pradesh government ridiculised some media reports which were saying that forensic tests revealed that the substance which was found in UP assembly last week was not PETN. “It is to clarify that no sample has been sent to Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Agra, of the substance as they do not have the machines and wherewithal to conduct the requisite tests,” Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar said.
The factual position was that State FSL Lucknow in its report dated July 14, has found the substance as “water insoluble and that different reagents confirm the presence of a nitrate”, Kumar added. Kumar also pointed out that the preliminary test conducted using explosive detection kit was positive for Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN).
Two confirmatory tests were currently being conducted at SFSL Lucknow — Infrared Spectrum and Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results of which were still awaited.
In a major security breach, a white powder substance was found near the seat of Leader of Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on July13 evening. The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh himself announced it in the assembly. The incident triggered a scare and invited a sharp criticism of the government from the opposition over security. The National Investigative Agency (NIA) on July 15, began a probe into the incident. A Samajwadi Party MLA from Unchahar constituency was questioned over the whole issue by the NIA on Monday. According to the officials, he was found sitting on the particular seat a day before the explosive was recovered from under the cushion.
