Gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari dies of cardiac arrest; Section 144 imposed in UP

Lucknow: Jailed mafia don turned politician Mukhtar Ansari died in a hospital in Uttar Pradesh's Banda town on Thursday night after reportedly suffering a cardiac arrest.

According to the police sources here, Ansari was admitted to the Banda Medical College Hospital earlier in the day after his condition allegedly deteriorated when he fainted inside the district jail where he had been lodged.

Sources said that Ansari was brought to the hospital a little after eight in the evening in an unconscious state. ''Ansari was provided all possible medical help by a team of nine doctors but he died a little later following a cardiac arrest,'' said a hospital official in Banda.

Sources said security has been tightened in UP's Ghazipur, Mau, Varanasi and other districts in the eastern UP region as a precautionary measure. ''We are maintaining a strict vigil,'' said a senior police official here. Section 144 had been imposed in Banda, Ghazipur and Mau districts, sources added.

People gather at the residence of the jailed gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari who was rushed to a hospital in Banda after his health deteriorated, in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur,

Ansari, 63, had been shifted to the hospital on Monday also after he complained of uneasiness but was discharged by the doctors on Tuesday and was shifted back to the district jail.

According to the reports, Ansari's family members, including his brother Azfal Ansari, who was the Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate from Ghazipur Lok Sabha seat and sitting MP from there, had left for Banda.

The gangster-turned politician, who faced dozens of criminal cases including those of murder, extortion and others, had earlier said during a court hearing that he apprehended threats to his life and also alleged that he was being given 'slow poison' by the jail authorities. He had, in a letter to the court through his lawyer, alleged that he was given food laced with poison in jail on March 19.

The jail administration had, however, rejected the allegations and said that Ansari was provided the same food which was given to the other inmates and that none of them had made any complaint.

Ansari had also pleaded for providing better medical facilities to him citing his deteriorating health in the prison. Ansari's brother Afzal had also alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched to kill Mukhtar.

The Samajwadi Party condoled Ansari's death on social media handle 'X'.

"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 loss. Humble tribute," the party said in a post in Hindi on X.