Suspicious explosive powder substance found inside UP Assembly building

Lucknow: A "suspicious explosive substance" was discovered inside the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, triggering a scare and inviting sharp criticism from the opposition over security.

The substance was on Thursday evening recovered from near the seat of Leader of Opposition, and the House was locked around midnight for a thorough search.

Under attack, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday announced in the Assembly that the National Investigative Agency (NIA) must probe the incident. The state assembly is holding its budget session.

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party government over the law and order situation prevailing in the state.

Azad said: "If the state assembly was not safe, what would happen to the ordinary citizens."

Samajwadi Party leader Rajendra Chowdhry also echoed similar views and said the Adityanath government has failed on the law and order front. 

Unconfirmed reports suggest the powder-like substance found inside the Vidhan Sabha on Thursday evening was an explosive called PETN.

Adityanath has also directed officials involved with the security of the assembly building to be more vigilant.

The police has not yet confirmed what the substance was. A senior official told IANS that the material has been sent to the forensic lab for testing.