While the Anti-Terrorism Squad that is probing the recovery of explosive in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly and questioning employees of the Assembly in that connection is yet to make any headway, the security agencies have found another packet of suspicious powder inside the Assembly. The discovery came two days after plastic explosive was found inside the premises.
Meanwhile, the UP Police on Saturday put in place anti-sabotage measures in the Assembly apart from sounding a high alert.
Sources said security personnel found a sealed packet containing some powder weighing about 50 grams during a check on Friday evening. This came after 150 grams of the high-potential explosive Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN) powder was found near the seat of the leader of Opposition on July 12.
The sealed packet was handed over to the city police for further examination. The State ATS and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Aseem Arun confirmed the recovery and added that primary inquiry suggested the packet contained magnesium sulphate would be sent for the forensic examination.
He said the magnesium sulphate is used as drying agent for packing material.
Arun said pan masala and other eatables packets are usually thrown inside the premises and that anti-mine, anti-sabotage and bomb disposal squads were sanitising every corner of the Vidhan Bhawan premises.
On Saturday evening, a team of senior Government officials including Principal Secretary (Home), Principal Secretary (Vidhan Sabha security), Director General of Police, ADG (Intelligence) ADG (Security) and other senior officers also visited the Assembly to chalk a fullproof security plan. Sources said that the ATS team will go for a mock drill with other security agencies to prevent any security breach at the country’s largest Assembly on Sunday. It may be mentioned that NIA yet to take probe but a team of the Central agency already joined the ATS team to make an early breakthrough.
During the day the security personnel also checked 23 camera recordings which includes 12 in the Assembly premises, six inside the House, two at the gates of entry and exit of ruling and Opposition members and three cameras of Doordarshan, who telecast the proceedings live. The security personal has been reported to have also talked to couple of Samajwadi Party MlAs under which the explosive PETN packet was found on July 12.
Several senior police officials are involved in the investigation headed by a SP rank officer Umesh Kumar Srivastava and SP Prabharar Choudhury. Arun said on the directives of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the security system in the Assembly premises have been stepped up. “Tomorrow all the security agencies will go for a mock drill to assess the security of the Assembly premises,” the IG said. The security agencies are giving no scope for any security relaxation due to the Presidential polls to be held on Monday at the Assembly premises.
“An integrated security plan to ensure effective liaison with the Sachivalaya Suraksha Dal (secretariat protection force) is being worked upon. Entry through old passes has been disallowed and people with bona fide passes are only allowed to enter the UP legislature complex,” Anand Kumar disclosed. The ADG said, “As many as 109 close-circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been made functional to increase the vigil.”
The Assembly may also install full body scanners soon.