Gangster-Politician Mukhtar Ansari Dies of Cardiac Arrest in UP; Security Ramped Up

In a significant development from Uttar Pradesh, Mukhtar Ansari, a notable gangster-turned-politician, succumbed to cardiac arrest at the Rani Durgavati Medical College in Banda. This incident occurred on Thursday, following his transfer from the district jail in an unconscious state. The demise of the 63-year-old, who had been incarcerated since 2005 and faced over 60 criminal charges, has led to the imposition of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) across the state. Additional security forces, including teams from the Central Reserve Police Force, have been deployed in key districts such as Banda, Mau, Ghazipur, and Varanasi to maintain order.

Ansari's death was confirmed by Suneel Kaushal, the principal of the medical college, who stated that Ansari was brought in around 8.25 pm after experiencing vomiting and later died due to cardiac arrest. This event has sparked controversy and concern, especially after allegations made by Ansari's brother, Afzal Ansari, claiming that Mukhtar was subjected to slow poisoning in jail—a claim that authorities have denied.

Mukhtar Ansari was a five-time MLA from Mau Sadar and had a significant influence in the regions of Ghazipur and Varanasi. His criminal record includes being sentenced in eight cases since September 2022 by various courts in Uttar Pradesh. Furthermore, his name appeared on a list of 66 gangsters issued by the Uttar Pradesh Police last year.

The Uttar Pradesh Police's social media cell has been activated to monitor and manage any unlawful activities online in light of this event. The police headquarters in Lucknow announced that Ansari's post-mortem would be conducted in Banda and documented via video recording. Additionally, his viscera will be preserved for further examination if necessary.

Ansari's health issues were not new; he was hospitalized for approximately 14 hours on Tuesday due to abdominal pain. Previously, in January 2019, he was detained in Punjab's Ropar jail related to an extortion case and remained there for over two years until the Uttar Pradesh government successfully petitioned the Supreme Court for his return to the state.

The news of Ansari's demise has elicited reactions from various political figures. AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi expressed his condolences and criticized the state government for allegedly neglecting Ansari's health concerns despite claims of poisoning. Similarly, Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Samajwadi Party extended their sympathies to Ansari's family, highlighting the gravity of the allegations surrounding his death.

Pappu Yadav, a former Bihar MP who recently joined Congress, went as far as to label Ansari's death as "institutional murder" and called for a court-monitored investigation into the matter. He emphasized that this incident casts a shadow over India's constitutional system and underscores the need for impartial scrutiny.

The unfolding events following Mukhtar Ansari's death have ignited a debate on justice and governance in Uttar Pradesh. With calls for thorough investigations into the circumstances leading to his demise, this incident remains a focal point of political and social discourse.