New Delhi:

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi paid tribute to Mukhtar Ansari and visited his residence in Ghazipur.

Taking to the social media platform X, he expressed grief over Mukhtar Ansari’s death and wrote, “Today we went to the house of the deceased Mukhtar Ansari and paid tribute to his family. In this difficult time, we stand with his family, supporters and loved ones.”

Taking a veiled jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he said, “Insha Allah, the light will break through this darkness. If you are ‘Pharaoh’ then ‘Moses’ will also definitely come.”

Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari was laid to rest at the Kali Bagh burial ground in Ghazipur on Saturday. His mortal remains were buried near the graves of his parents.

There was heavy security deployment in Ghazipur on account of his last rites. Police personnel were deployed along the route leading from his residence to the graveyard.

Following the postmortem, the body of Mukhtar Ansari was brought to his Ghazipur residence on Friday night. The postmortem report, however, said that Mukhtar Ansari died due to cardiac

Mukhtar Ansari died at a hospital in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, on Thursday. His family, however, claimed that he was “given poison in the food.”

According to the official release from the hospital, Mukhtar Ansari was brought to the hospital around 8:25 pm on Thursday. A team of nine doctors attended to him before he died, the release added.

Meanwhile, a three-member team has been formed that will conduct a magisterial investigation into the death of Mukhtar Ansari.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate Banda issued orders concerning the judicial probe.

In April 2023, Mukhtar Ansari was convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai by an MP-MLA court. He was sentenced to life in prison on March 13, 2024, in a case related to the use of forged documents for obtaining an arms licence in 1990.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Ghazipur, UP:

The funeral of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari will take place amid heightened security in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur today. Following the completion of the postmortem examination at Rani Durgavati Medical College in Banda district, Mr Ansari’s body was brought to his hometown Ghazipur, covering a 400-kilometre route.

A convoy of 26 vehicles, including 24 police vehicles alongside the ambulance carrying Mr Ansari’s body, made its way through districts like Prayagraj, Bhadohi, Kaushambi, and Varanasi, before reaching Ghazipur, where Mr Ansari’s legacy is both feared and revered. 

Mr Ansari’s sons Umar Ansari and Abbas Ansari, and the latter’s wife, accompanied by two cousins, were present inside the ambulance during the journey. The UP government planned the route in anticipation of security concerns, given Mr Ansari’s notorious past and the sensitive nature of the situation.

The Ansaris have designated the family graveyard in Mohammadabad’s Kali Bagh as the final resting place for the former leader. Heavy security has been deployed in Ghazipur and surrounding areas in anticipation of the funeral.

Family’s Allegations 

Despite the security arrangements, controversy looms over Mr Ansari’s death. His family has alleged that he was subjected to “slow poisoning” during his incarceration. However, according to news agency PTI, a postmortem examination confirmed that Ansari, 68, died of a heart attack, conducted by a panel of five doctors at Rani Durgavati Medical College.

His family claims they were not informed directly about his demise and learned about it through the media. 

Mr Ansari’s life was marred by controversies and legal battles. In April 2023, he was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison for the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai. Earlier this month, he received a life sentence for his involvement in obtaining an arms license using forged documents.

Criminal Record

His first encounter with law enforcement took place when he was just 15 years old. From thereon, his criminal record burgeoned, with a staggering 65 cases lodged against him, ranging from murder to extortion.

However, Mr Ansari’s notoriety did not deter his foray into politics. He was elected as an MLA in UP on five occasions, representing different political parties.

Despite his criminal graph escalating over the years, Mr Ansari continued to wield political influence, even founding his own party, Qaumi Ekta Dal (QED), and securing electoral victories. However, his criminal pursuits eventually caught up with him, with numerous convictions and ongoing trials in various courts.

Ghazipur, UP:

The dead body of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, who died after suffering a cardiac arrest, was brought to his Ghazipur residence for last rites amid heavy police deployment by the district administration.

The last rites will be performed on Saturday, said Mukhtar Ansari’s elder brother, Sibgatullah Ansari.

“We received the body after some delay so the last rites cannot be performed tonight. It will be done tomorrow morning. I request everybody to pray for him,” Sibgatullah Ansari told ANI on Friday.

Earlier in the day, the body of Mukhtar Ansari was taken from Banda to Ghazipur after the completion of the post-mortem at Banda Medical College and Hospital.

Ansari died in a hospital in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, on Thursday. His family, however, has

Meanwhile, a three-member team will conduct a magisterial investigation into the death of Ansari.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate Banda issued orders concerning the judicial probe. Officials said a panel of two doctors will do the post-mortem, which will be videographed.

Umar Ansari, the son of Mukhtar Ansari, told ANI that he had written a letter demanding that the postmortem be done by doctors at AIIMS, Delhi.

“It (post-mortem) is their procedure. I have written a letter saying that it should be done by doctors at AIIMS Delhi. We don’t trust the medical system, government and administration here…You know why I am saying this…Panchnama is done. District Magistrate has to make a decision. Let’s see what he decides. The postmortem has not begun…,” he said.

“We hope that the court will help investigate the suspicions that we are expressing. We will consult our legal team. We are confident that this is not a natural death but an orchestrated murder,” he added.

According to the official release from the hospital, Ansari was brought to the hospital around 8:25 pm on Thursday. A team of nine doctors attended to him before he died, the release added.

Sibgatullah Ansari, Mukhtar Ansari’s elder brother, claimed on Friday that the administration did not inform him and he learned about his brother’s death through the media.

Earlier, Umar Ansari had claimed that his father was “given poison in the food” and said “they would move the judiciary”.

In April 2023, Mukhtar Ansari was convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai by an MP-MLA court. He was sentenced to life in prison on March 13, 2024, in a case related to the use of forged documents for obtaining an arms licence in 1990.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Lucknow:

BSP president Mayawati today demanded a high-level inquiry into the death of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, saying the truth of the case needs to come before the public.

Ansari, 63, died of cardiac arrest at a hospital in Banda district of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.

In a post on X, the BSP president said “The persistent apprehensions and serious allegations made by Mukhtar Anasari’s family regarding his death in jail require a high -level investigation so that the true facts of his death can be revealed.”

Bhim Army founder and Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) president Chandra Shekhar Aazad also demanded a CBI investigation into the death of Ansari.

“The untimely demise of former MLA Mukhtar Ansari is very sad. I pay my humble tribute. My condolences to his family and supporters, may nature give them the strength to bear this immense loss,” Aazad posted on X in Hindi.

“Earlier he had expressed apprehension that he will be murdered. I demand from the High Court of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh for a CBI investigation into his death,” the Dalit leader added.

Aazad’s party is in fray for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The 63-year-old Ansari was brought to the Rani Durgavati Medical College in Banda from the district jail in “an unconscious state” on Thursday evening and died at the hospital following a cardiac arrest, according to its principal Suneel Kaushal.

Ansari’s family has alleged that he was subjected to slow poisoning in jail, a charge denied by authorities.

Ansari was a five-time MLA from Mau Sadar. He had been behind bars in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab since 2005. He had over 60 criminal cases pending against him.

He was sentenced in eight cases since September 2022 by different courts in Uttar Pradesh and was lodged in the Banda jail. His name was on the list of 66 gangsters issued by Uttar Pradesh Police last year.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Lucknow:

Raising a question mark on the law-and-order situation in Uttar Pradesh after the death of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtan Ansari following a cardiac arrest in Banda, Akhilesh Yadav today said there should be a probe supervised by a Supreme Court judge into such “doubtful” cases.

Ansari died in the Banda Medical College due to a cardiac arrest on Thursday. He was rushed to the hospital from the district jail after his health condition deteriorated.

In a post in Hindi on X, Akhilesh Yadav said, “It is the foremost responsibility and duty of the government to protect someone’s life in every situation and at every place.”

“The death of a hostage or prisoner in any of the following circumstances will erode public confidence in the judicial process – while confined in a police station, in a fight inside the jail, on falling ill inside the prison, while being taken to hospital, during treatment in hospital, by showing a false encounter, by showing a false suicide, by showing casualties in an accident – all such doubtful cases should be probed under the supervision of a Supreme Court judge,” he added.

“A government that cannot protect lives has no right to remain in power,” the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, claiming that the state is going through the worst phase of “government anarchy”.

“This is the zero hour for law and order in Uttar Pradesh,” he said on the microblogging platform.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati also pitched for a high-level probe into Ansari’s death.

In a post in Hindi on X, she said: “The persistent apprehensions and serious allegations made by Mukhtar Anasari’s family regarding his death in jail require a high-level investigation so that the true facts of his death can be revealed.” Ansari’s son Umar, who arrived in Banda late on Thursday night, told reporters that his father had raised apprehensions that he was being slow-poisoned.

“He was given poison with his dinner on March 19 and had apprised the court of the same,” Umar Ansari said.

“We got the news of his death only through the media. We will demand a high-level inquiry and do whatever we have to do through the court. We have full confidence in the court,” he said.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:
Security has been tightened in several Uttar Pradesh towns after gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari died of a cardiac arrest. His family though allege that the gangster, who has been in jail since 2005, was poisoned.

Here are 10 facts on the big story:

New Delhi:

Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari died of cardiac arrest at a hospital in Uttar Pradesh late last evening.

Ansari was rushed to the hospital in Banda after he fell unconscious in the district jail at around 8.45 pm. He died at the Rani Durgavati Medical College during the treatment after suffering a cardiac arrest.

The family of Mukhtar Ansari – who had been in jail in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh since 2005 – has alleged that he was poisoned in the prison.

“Mukhtar said that he was given a poisonous substance in his food in jail. This happened for the second time. He was given poison around 40 days ago as well. And, recently, on March 19, he was again given this (poison) due to which his condition was bad,” his brother Afzal Ansari had been quoted as saying by PTI.

Mukhtar Ansari’s son Umar also alleged that his father was given poison in the food and said he would approach the court. “We said this before also and even today we will say the same thing. On March 19, he was poisoned in the dinner. We will move to the judiciary, we have full faith in it…,” he said.

Mukhtar Ansari’s lawyer had earlier this month alleged in the court that there was a threat to his life in Banda jail and that he was fed some poisonous substance along with his food. 

Several politicians including RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Bahujan Samaj Party Chief Mayawati have called for a probe into the dreaded gangster’s family’s allegations.

Security was stepped up outside the hospital after his death, and prohibitory orders were imposed across the state to maintain law and order. 

Officials said there was special deployment of forces in Banda, Mau, Ghazipur and Varanasi districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh as well, where Ansari wields influence allegedly through a criminal syndicate.

Ansari’s autopsy will be conducted today at Banda Medical College Hospital.

Ansari had also been hospitalised in the early hours of Tuesday and discharged after nearly 14 hours. The prison department had said that Ansari’s health had deteriorated because he was fasting during Ramadan and he had fallen in the washroom.

Ansari, the five-time former MLA from Mau, had more than criminal cases against him, of which 15 were on murder charges. 

He had joined a gang in the 1980s and then formed his own in the 1990s. The gang was involved in extortion and kidnapping in the Mau, Ghazipur, Varanasi and Jaunpur districts.

Aligarh, UP:

 Security arrangements have been tightened in UP’s Aligarh after the death of Mukhtar Ansari, who suffered cardiac arrest on Thursday night.

Police conducted a flag march in the area, and an alert has also been issued in the entire state, said IG Aligarh Range Shalabh Mathur.

“After the death of Mukhtar Ansari, an alert has been issued in the entire state. There is also an alert in the area regarding this and now SSP Aligarh is with us and taking stock regarding this. Police administration will remain alert on all these points. All the officials will monitor the spread of rumours on social media,” he added.

#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: Security strengthened in Aligarh; police conducts flag march in the area following the death of Mukhtar Ansari after suffering from cardiac arrest.

IG Aligarh Range Shalabh Mathur says, “After the death of Mukhtar Ansari, an alert has been issued in the… https://t.co/wzKT9fhSmmpic.twitter.com/K5ZtsYuG2H

— ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2024

The dreaded gangster was brought to the hospital around 8:25 PM, according to the official release from the hospital. A team of nine doctors attended to him before he died, the release added.

Expressing condolences over the death of Mukhtar Ansari, the Samajwadi Party shared a post on Twitter that read, “Sad demise of former MLA Shri Mukhtar Ansari. May his soul rest in peace. May the bereaved family members get the strength to bear this immense sorrow. Humble tribute !”.

Speaking on the same, Congress leader Surendra Rajput launched an attack on the BJP and said, “Today Mukhtar Ansari’s death in jail raises a big question for the BJP-led UP Government…This should be investigated thoroughly so that everyone gets to know what is going on.”

Speaking to ANI, Naseem Haider, the lawyer for Mukhtar Ansari, said, “I received information that he has been brought here, so I have come here.”

On Tuesday, he was admitted to a hospital in Uttar Pradesh’s Banda after he complained of abdominal pain. He was then shifted to Uttar Pradesh’s Rani Durgawati Medical College after his discharge on Tuesday.

Ansari was elected as an MLA from the Mau assembly seat five times, including twice as a Bahujan Samaj Party candidate. He had a strong influence in Ghazipur, his hometown.

In April 2023, Mukhtar Ansari was convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai by an MP MLA court. He was sentenced to life in prison on March 13, 2024, in a case related to the use of forged documents for obtaining an arms licence in 1990.

Before this, in December 2023, the MP/MLA Court of Varanasi had found Mukhtar Ansari guilty of threatening Mahavir Prasad Rungta, a witness in the murder of 26-year-old coal businessman Nand Kishor Rungta, and had sentenced him to five and a half years of rigorous imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 against him.

On October 15, last year, the Enforcement Directorate attached lands, a building and bank deposits worth more than Rs 73.43 lakh as part of the money laundering investigation against Mukhtar Ansari.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)