In a tragic turn of events, Mukhtar Ansari, a notorious gangster-politician hailing from Uttar Pradesh, breathed his last on Thursday night following a heart attack. Ansari was swiftly taken to Rani Durgavati Medical College in Banda earlier in the evening as his health took a sharp downturn. Despite efforts made during treatment, he succumbed to his condition at the medical facility.
Medical personnel were initially summoned to the jail premises to attend to Ansari, but the severity of his condition prompted his immediate transfer to the hospital, with suspicions pointing to a heart attack-like ailment, sources revealed.
Reports from medical authorities indicate that Ansari’s health took a nosedive after he broke his fast in the evening, experiencing vomiting and subsequently falling unconscious, leading to his emergency admission to the hospital.
Mukhtar Ansari, born on June 30, 1963, was a convicted Indian gangster and politician who had a significant political presence in Uttar Pradesh. He served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly from the Mau constituency on five occasions, twice representing the Bahujan Samaj Party. Notably, he was a relative of former Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari.
Ansari hailed from a politically influential family, with his paternal grandfather being Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari, an early president of the Indian National Congress, and his maternal grandfather, Mohammad Usman, a Brigadier in the Indian Army.
The rise of organised gangs in the Poorvanchal area in the 1970s led to Ansari’s involvement in criminal activities. He was initially associated with the Makhanu Singh gang and later engaged in violent clashes with rival gangs over control of lucrative contracts and territory.
Ansari’s criminal activities eventually caught up with him, leading to his conviction in various cases. In April 2023, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai. Additionally, on March 13, 2024, Ansari received a life sentence in connection with a fake arm license case.
The demise of Mukhtar Ansari marks the end of an era characterized by criminality and political influence, leaving behind a legacy fraught with controversy and legal battles.