BANDA/LUCKNOW, March 29: Mukhtar Ansari, a former gangster-turned-politician, passed away due to cardiac arrest at a hospital in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, on Thursday. Following his demise, authorities imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, prohibiting large gatherings, across the state, with heightened security measures in districts including Banda, Mau, Ghazipur, and Varanasi.
Ansari, 63, had been a five-time MLA from the Mau Sadar seat and had been incarcerated in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab since 2005, facing over 60 criminal cases. He was serving sentences in eight cases in various courts in Uttar Pradesh and was held in Banda jail. Additionally, he was listed among the 66 gangsters issued by the Uttar Pradesh Police last year.
According to officials, Ansari was admitted to Rani Durgavati Medical College in an unconscious state and later succumbed to cardiac arrest. His brother Afzal Ansari had previously alleged that Ansari was being subjected to “slow poisoning” in jail, a claim refuted by authorities.
Amidst condolences from political leaders including the Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal, questions have been raised regarding Ansari’s treatment in custody. Former Bihar MP Pappu Yadav termed Ansari’s death as “institutional murder” and called for a court-monitored investigation into the circumstances surrounding it.
Afzal Ansari had earlier raised concerns about his brother’s health, alleging poisoning incidents in jail, and even filed an application in court regarding the matter. The Uttar Pradesh government had previously sought the Supreme Court’s intervention to transfer Ansari from Ropar jail in Punjab, where he was lodged since January 2019, citing medical reasons.
Ansari’s demise has sparked debates on the treatment of prisoners and the need for transparent investigations into such incidents.
