U.P: Mukhtar dies after cardiac arrest, family claims slow poison

Banda (UP), Mar 28 Jailed mafia-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari died following a cardiac arrest at the Durgawati Medical College here in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday. He was 63.

According to the medical bulleting issued by Durgawati Medical College, Mukhtar was brought in following a complaint of vomiting in an unconscious state.

The bulletin said that despite all efforts, the patient died due to cardiac arrest.

However, Mukhtar's family members alleged that he was being slow poisoned.

Following Mukhtar's death, security has been beefed up in Banda, Ghazipur, and Mau districts.

Jail sources said as soon as Mukhtar's health deteriorated, the health officials were informed. District Magistrate Durga Shakti Nagpal, along with Superintendent of Police Ankur Agarwal, reached the jail, and Mukhtar was taken to the medical college amidst tight security.

It may be noted that Mukhtar Ansari, who was currently lodged in Banda divisional jail, was admitted to the government medical college due to health complications on Tuesday as well.

At that time, Mukhtar was put on ventilator support in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Durgawati Medical College.

According to the medical bulletin released by the hospital, "Mukhtar Ansari (62) was admitted to RDMC Banda on Tuesday at around 03:55 am with a complaint of abdominal pain and was unable to pass stool and flatus for the last 4 to 5 days."

It may be noted that Mukhtar was sentenced to life imprisonment by a special court in Varanasi with a penalty of Rs 2.02 lakh in a more than 33-year-old fake arms licence case. In June 1987, Mukhtar gave an application for the licence of a double-barrel gun in the office of the then District Magistrate, Ghazipur. It was alleged that, in connivance with the staff, Mukhtar obtained the licence through the forged signatures of the DM and the then Superintendent of Police (SP).

After forgery came to fore, a case was lodged against five named persons, including Mukhtar, in December 1990. After an investigation, a charge sheet was filed against Mukhtar and an ordnance clerk, Gauri Shankar Srivastava, in court in 1997. Gauri Shankar died during the course of the trial.