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.)