Lucknow, Jul 15: Uttar Pradesh government may have banned the consumption of betel and tobacco inside government offices and buildings in the state but the state lawmakers, it appears, themselves do not abide by the orders.
'Gutkha' (Pan Masala) and 'khaini' (raw tobacco) pouches were found under the seats of the legislators in the state assembly during a search on Saturday.
According to the sources, the vacant gutkha and raw tobacco pouches were stuck up between the cushion and the seat. It clearly showed that the legislators had been consuming these items inside the assembly building and even while taking part in the proceedings.
The sleuths from the NIA and UP ATS on Saturday conducted a thorough search operation in the assembly in their effort to look for clues with regard to the discovery of PETN ( (Pentaerythritol tetranitrate), under the seat of an opposition party legislator on Wednesday.
Sources said that the explosive would be sent for -re-checking to the Forensic Science Laboratory at Hyderabad to ascertain not only its identity but also its intensity.
Police sources also said that the investigating agencies were likely to question some MLAs, including the one under whose seat the explosive was found.
The sleuths on Saturday questioned the sweepers and other staff members, who were deployed in the security of the house. The marshals were also quizzed, sources said.
Security was strengthened in the assembly building with additional security personnel deployed there. Bunkers were also set-up at different entry gates of the building.
A high-level meeting of the officials was also held here to discuss security threat to chief minister Yogi Adityanath in the wake of the discovery of the explosive.
Adityanath had said on Friday that the incident might have been part of a conspiracy and that the terror angle could not be ruled completely.
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