Preparations are underway for the funeral of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari at the Kali Bagh Graveyard in Ghazipur. See here.

Former DSP Shailendra Singh tells ANI that gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari’s empire was at its peak some 20 years ago in 2004.

“He would move around in open jeeps in areas where curfew was imposed. That time I recovered a Light Machine Gun, no recovery was made before or after that. I even imposed POTA on him… But the Mulayam Government wanted to save him at any cost. He pressurised officials, IG-Range, DIG, and SP-STF were transferred, even I was made to resign within 15 days,” he says.

On the death of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, SP Mau issued an appeal to the public to maintain peace.

“…Section 144 CrPC is already in place. Appeal is being made to everyone to maintain peace and not take note of any rumours that are being spread through social media. he tells ANI.

He adds: Since Jumma Namaz will be offered today, an adequate Police force is being deployed at all sensitive areas across the district…The situation is peaceful, there is no problem…”

A senior police official said that Mukhtar Ansari feared a threat to his life as four of his close associates were killed while in judicial custody since 2018. Two shootouts took place inside UP jails while one happened inside the courtroom.

Lodged in different jails in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab since 2005, Mukhtar Ansari was shifted back to the Banda prison in April 2021. Read more.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has termed the allegations of “slow-poisoning” by Mukhtar Ansari’s family as serious.

“The persistent apprehensions and serious allegations made by Mukhtar Ansari’s family regarding his death in jail require a high-level investigation so that the true facts of his death can be revealed,” she wrote on X. “In such a situation, it is natural for his family to be sad. May nature give them the strength to bear this sorrow.”

Mukhtar Ansari’s family lawyer Chandrajeet Yadav, who was given access to the mortuary where the politician’s body is kept, said that formalities are being completed for the examination. “The panel of five doctors is being finalised,” he adds.

Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari’s lawyer Chandrajeet Yadav tells ANI: “Documentation process is going on. A panel of doctors is being formed and the postmortem will start soon. Some documents had to be signed for which we have come here. We will give updates as soon as we receive any…”

Parole orders are being awaited for Mukhtar Ansari’s son, Abbas Ansari, who is lodged at the Kasganj district Jail, to attend the gangster-turned-politician’s funeral in Ghazipur.

Rashtriya Janata Party (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday raised concerns over the events leading to gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari’s death and called on the constitutional institutions to take suo motu cognizance of “such strange cases”.

“Sad news was received about the demise of former UP MLA Shri Mukhtar Ansari. We pray to God to grant peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family to bear the loss,” former Bihar deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav said in Hindi on X.

Extending condolences to Mukhtar Ansari’s family, AIMIM chief Owaisi said, “The people of Ghazipur lost their favourite son and brother.” Read more.

Mukhtar Ansari, born into an influential family in 1963, straddled the worlds of crime and politics in Uttar Pradesh. Mukhtar Ansari hailed from a distinguished lineage deeply rooted in India’s struggle for independence. His paternal grandfather, Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari, was a notable leader in the Indian National Congress, becoming its president in 1927 and later, serving as Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia until his death in 1936. Read further.

Mukhtar Ansari’s son, Umar Ansari, has alleged that the 63-year-old was being “slow-poisoned” by a substance mixed in food given to him in the Banda jail.

“My father had told us he was being subjected to ‘slow poison’,” Umar Ansari told reporters and added that the entire country knows about it now, according to ANI.

The charge has been denied by authorities.

The Uttar Pradesh administration has deployed additional security personnel in Banda, Mau, Ghazipur and Varanasi districts.

Following Mukhtar Ansari’s death on Thursday night, security has been beefed up across Uttar Pradesh.

The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which bars large gatherings, across the state.

Mukhtar Ansari was brought to the Rani Durgavati Medical College in the city from the district jail in “an unconscious state” after he had complained of vomiting.

A team of nine doctors attended to him but he died of cardiac arrest, the medical college said in a bulletin.

Mukhtar Ansari death news LIVE: Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari died of cardiac arrest at a hospital in Uttar Pradesh’s Banda on Thursday.