Mukhtar Ansari's family accuses jail authorities of poisoning, vows legal action
PTC News Desk: The demise of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, attributed to a cardiac arrest at a hospital in Uttar Pradesh, has sparked allegations of foul play from his family. Ansari, who had been incarcerated in jails across Uttar Pradesh and Punjab since 2005, was rushed to the hospital in Banda after losing consciousness in the district jail around 8:45 pm. Tragically, he passed away during treatment at the Rani Durgavati Medical College.
His family, deeply troubled by his sudden demise, has raised serious concerns regarding his health and safety behind bars. Allegations have surfaced that Ansari was deliberately poisoned during his time in prison, with his brother Afzal Ansari revealing that Mukhtar had confided in him about being administered a poisonous substance in his food. According to Afzal Ansari, this wasn't an isolated incident, as Mukhtar had previously encountered a similar situation approximately 40 days ago and more recently on March 19.
Echoing these sentiments, Ansari's son Umar expressed determination to seek justice for his father's untimely demise. He vowed to take legal recourse, emphasising their unwavering faith in the judiciary. The family's allegations have added a layer of complexity to Ansari's death, prompting heightened security measures outside the hospital and the imposition of prohibitory orders across the state to prevent any potential unrest.
In light of these developments, officials have ramped up security in districts where Ansari wielded significant influence, allegedly through his criminal syndicate. The autopsy is scheduled to be conducted at Banda Medical College Hospital today, shedding further light on the circumstances surrounding Ansari's death.
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Ansari's health had previously been a cause for concern when he was hospitalised in the early hours of Tuesday, later being discharged after nearly 14 hours. The prison department attributed his deteriorating health to fasting during Ramadan and a fall in the washroom.
A five-time former MLA from Mau, Ansari's political career was intertwined with a long history of criminal charges, including 15 murder cases among the 61 criminal cases against him. His trajectory from joining a gang in the 1980s to forming his own criminal syndicate in the 1990s, involved in extortion and kidnapping across districts like Mau, Ghazipur, Varanasi, and Jaunpur, paints a complex picture of his life and legacy.
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(Inputs from agencies)
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