New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh (UP) state government on Wednesday clarified that it did not send a sample of the white powder found in the state assembly premises last week to Agra Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for analysis, contradicting the lab’s report that it did not find any trace of explosives in it.
Creating confusion about the nature of the powdery substance, the state government said the tests were conducted in Lucknow lab and preliminary reports confirmed the presence of nitrate.
“The sample was not sent to Agra as they do not have the wherewithal to conduct the tests. The factual position is that FSL Lucknow has found the substance to be water insoluble. Different reagents confirm the presence of a nitrate, preliminary tests using explosive detection kit were positive for Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN),” Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar told media.
Earlier, FSL Lucknow had claimed that it was the only lab in the state that had expertise to examine explosive material.
But according to UP Police website, only the Agra lab in the state has an explosives division.
“An explosive division was sanctioned for undertaking the examination of explosive material. This division started functioning at Agra in the year 1987. It is expected to cater to the needs of all the districts in the state,” states the UP Police website.
Inspector General of Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) Aseem Arun said tests were always conducted by two labs for a reliable analysis.
“We have sent the sample to Lucknow Forensic Lab. It is not our concern that from which of their lab they are conducting the tests. Anti Terrorism Squad always gets the tests done from two labs. Now the sample will be sent to Hyderabad Forensic Lab,” he said.
Last week, UP Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath said a lab in Lucknow did find traces of PETN.
Speaking in the state assembly on Tuesday, the CM called for an investigation by National Investigation Agency (NIA).
“The National Investigation Agency (NIA) should investigate the matter. A response team to act on such threats should also be immediately put in place. It should have been done a long time ago,” Adityanath said.
On July 12, around 60 grams of PETN was detected near Leader of Opposition Ram Govind Chaudhary’s seat in the state legislative assembly during a security check.
According to experts, PETN is colourless and can dodge metal detectors. Its crystals are hard to detect in sealed containers. It is a powerful explosive, 200 gram of which is enough to blow up a truck to pieces.
