In the aftermath of Mukhtar Ansari’s demise, a somber atmosphere enveloped Banda, Uttar Pradesh, as the former gangster turned politician breathed his last on Thursday night due to a cardiac arrest at the Banda prison.
Ansari, aged 63, had a notorious past, marked by numerous criminal cases, yet he transitioned into politics, serving as a five-time MLA from the Mau constituency in eastern UP.
Despite efforts by a team of nine doctors at Banda Medical College, Ansari could not be revived after complaining of vomiting and losing consciousness. His passing prompted heightened security measures across the state, with police deployed at the medical college and prohibitory orders enforced to maintain peace.
Meanwhile, Ansari’s family members were expected to arrive in Banda, while crowds gathered outside his paternal house in Mohammadabad, Ghazipur, upon hearing the news. This development follows Ansari’s recent hospitalization on Tuesday for abdominal pain, during which he alleged poisoning. His brother, Afzal Ansari, a sitting MP, had expressed concerns over his treatment.
As investigations into Ansari’s demise continue, his death marks the end of a controversial and tumultuous journey from the underworld to the political arena, leaving behind a legacy that continues to evoke mixed emotions and reactions.
