Mukhtar Ansari, a notorious figure known for his dual roles as a gangster and politician, breathed his last due to a cardiac arrest at a hospital in Banda, Uttar Pradesh. The 63-year-old, a five-time MLA from Mau Sadar seat, was rushed to Rani Durgavati Medical College from the district jail after his health deteriorated.
Confirming his demise, Medical College Principal Suneel Kaushal revealed that Ansari succumbed to a cardiac arrest while receiving treatment at the facility. The news of his hospitalization sparked heavy police presence outside the medical institution.
Ansari, who had been incarcerated in both Uttar Pradesh and Punjab since 2005, was notorious for his involvement in over 60 criminal cases. His incarceration stemmed from convictions in eight cases since September 2022, with the Banda jail being his latest place of detention. Notably, his name featured on the list of 66 gangsters issued by the Uttar Pradesh Police in the preceding year.
Following Ansari’s demise, prohibitory orders were swiftly enforced under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code across the state, aimed at preventing large gatherings. Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Prashant Kumar announced additional police deployment in districts known to be under Ansari’s influence, such as Banda, Mau, Ghazipur, and Varanasi. Furthermore, teams comprising both local police and the Central Reserve Police Force were mobilized in these regions.
Hailing from Mau, Ansari wielded significant clout in adjacent areas like Ghazipur and Varanasi. To monitor potential unrest, the social media cell of the Uttar Pradesh Police was activated to surveil unlawful activities online.
According to medical reports, Ansari was admitted to the medical college after complaining of vomiting and was subsequently found unconscious. Despite efforts by a team of nine doctors, he succumbed to the cardiac arrest. This incident follows a brief hospitalization earlier in the week when he complained of abdominal pain, prompting allegations of poisoning from his brother and Ghazipur MP Afzal Ansari.
Amidst his controversial legacy, the Samajwadi Party expressed condolences, acknowledging Ansari’s passing with a tribute in Hindi on X. As Uttar Pradesh grapples with the aftermath of Ansari’s demise, his death marks the end of a chapter dominated by his tumultuous presence in the state’s political and criminal landscape.