Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari today died following a heart attack. He was 63. The Uttar Pradesh government has imposed Section 144 across the state while security have been beefed up in several areas including Mau, Banda, Ghazipur, Balia and Pryagraj where the gangster had wide influence. Ansari was brought to Banda Medical College hospital after his health deteriorated today. Ansari breathed his last in the hospital.

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The district hospital issued a statement confirming Ansari’s death. “Convicted/under trial prisoner Mukhtar Ansari, son of Subhanallah, age 63, was admitted to the emergency ward of Rani Durgawati Medical College, Banda at 8.25 pm by the prison officials after the complaint of vomiting and unconsciousness. The patient was administered treatment by a team of nine doctors. However, despite efforts, the patient died due to cardiac arrest,” said the hospital.

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According to Zee News TV, the postmorterm of Ansari will be done tonight in Banda in the presence of his family members. The postmortem will be videographed as well. His body will be cremated tomorrow in Ghazipur.

Check Live Updates Here:

6:43 AM: Shops to remain close at Mohammadaband faatak today. 

6:37 am: Security strengthened in Firozabad; police conduct flag march following the death of Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari after suffering from cardiac arrest.

6:19 am: Umar Ansari, son of Mukhtar Ansari said, “I was not told anything from the administration side, I came to know about it through the media… But now the whole nation knows everything… Two days ago I came to meet him, but I was not allowed… We said earlier also and even today we will say the same about the allegation of giving slow poison. On March 19, he was poisoned in the dinner. We will move to the judiciary, we have full faith in it…” 

23.57 pm: Former Bihar Deputy CM and leader of RJD Tejashwi Yadav also raised question on Ansari’s death. “Sad news was received about the demise of former UP MLA Shri Mukhtar Ansari. We pray to the Almighty to grant peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family to bear the loss. A few days ago he had complained that he had been poisoned in jail, yet it was not taken seriously. This is not fair and humane. Constitutional institutions should take suo motu cognizance of such strange cases and incidents,” he said.

23.45pm: Mukhtar Ansari will be creamted in Ghazipur tomorrow. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is likely to visit Ghazipur tomorrow. Meanwhile, the UP Police has asked people to vacate the area after hundreds of people gathered at Ansari’s home in Ghazipur.

23.30pm: Congress questions the death of Mukhtar Ansari. Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput said that there is a jungle raj in Uttar Pradesh. He demanded a probe in the death of the gangster. His death raises a serious question on the BJP government, said Rajput. Congress leader Pappu Yadav termed Ansari’s death as institutionalised murder. 

23.20 pm: The UP government has decided to keep safe visceral samples of Ansari as there were allegation of him being poisoned in the jail.

23.10 pm: Uttar Pradesh Police is closely monitoring social media posts as well. Any derogatory tweet or posts aimed at provoking sentiments are being monitored. Police said that it will take strict action in case of any violation.

23.00 pm: A significant meeting is underway at the Chief Minister’s residence. DGP Prashant Kumar and ADG Law and Order Amitabh Yash are present. The events at the Chief Minister’s residence are under close observation. In any case, unpleasant incidents should be avoided, says Chief Minister Yogi.

10.55pm: Tomorrow is Friday, prompting high alert in the main mosques of the state. Sensitive Muslim areas will be closely monitored following Mukhtar Ansari’s death. Surveillance of all districts in Purvanchal, including Gazipur, will be conducted from the police headquarters in Lucknow. Forces will remain stationed outside major mosques after Friday prayers. Last year, Atik Ahmad was murdered during the month of Ramadan. Similarly, Mukhtar Ansari also passed away during the month of Ramadan.

Death Following Deteriorating Health

Earlier, Mukhtar Ansari was shifted from Uttar Pradesh’s Rani Durgawati Medical College to jail after his discharge on Tuesday. Mukhtar Ansari was admitted to a hospital after he complained of abdominal pain in jail. Ansari’s lawyer, Naseem Haider, had claimed that the former MLA in the Uttar Pradesh assembly is experiencing difficulty speaking.

Ansari was elected as an MLA from the Mau constituency five times – twice on Bahujan Samaj Party ticket and then on Samajwadi Party’s ticket. He last contested the assembly polls in 2017. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in a case related to the use of forged documents for obtaining an arms licence in 1990. This was the eighth case in which the he was convicted.

In December 2023, the MP/MLA Court of Varanasi convicted Mukhtar Ansari for intimidating Mahavir Prasad Rungta, a witness in the murder case of 26-year-old coal businessman Nand Kishor Rungta. Ansari was sentenced to five and a half years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 10,000. Last year, on October 15, the Enforcement Directorate seized lands, a building, and bank deposits valued at over Rs 73.43 lakh as part of the money laundering probe involving Mukhtar Ansari.