The funeral proceedings for Mukhtar Ansari, amidst allegations from his family of being poisoned during his jail term, are underway in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. Ansari’s body was transported to his hometown after a postmortem examination at Rani Durgavati Medical College in Banda district, covering a 400-kilometre route.
A convoy comprising 26 vehicles, including 24 police vehicles and an ambulance carrying Ansari’s body, made its way through various districts before arriving in Ghazipur. Ansari’s legacy in Ghazipur is both controversial and revered.
During the journey, Ansari’s sons Umar and Abbas, along with Abbas’s wife and two cousins, accompanied the body. The Uttar Pradesh government meticulously planned the route due to security concerns surrounding Ansari’s past and the sensitivity of the situation. The family has chosen the family graveyard in Mohammadabad’s Kali Bagh as Ansari’s final resting place, prompting heavy security deployment in Ghazipur and its surroundings.
Controversy surrounds Ansari’s death, with his family alleging that he was poisoned during his time in jail. However, a postmortem examination conducted by a panel of five doctors at Rani Durgavati Medical College determined the cause of death as a heart attack. The family further claims that they were not directly informed of Ansari’s demise and learned about it through the media.
Ansari’s life was marked by controversies and legal battles. In April 2023, he was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison for the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai. Recently, he received a life sentence for his involvement in obtaining an arms license using forged documents.
