The body of Mukhtar Ansari was brought to Ghazipur on early Saturday morning amid tight security and funeral rites of the deceased gangster-turned-politician will be performed at around 10 AM today.

Mukhtar Ansari Death: Gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari, who died of a cardiac arrest on Thursday night, will be laid to rest today in his native Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh. Officials said heavy security arrangements are in place and prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC have been imposed in the town to prevent any law and order issues.

As per reports, Ansari’s body was brought to Ghazipur on early Saturday morning amid tight security and funeral rites of the deceased gangster-turned-politician will be performed at around 10 AM today.

He will be laid to rest at the Kalibagh cemetery, the family has said.

“We received the body after some delay so the last rites cannot be performed tonight. It will be done tomorrow morning. I request everybody to pray for him,” Mukhtar Ansari’s older brother, Sibgatullah Ansari told news agency ANI on Friday evening.

Son demands autopsy by AIIMS doctors, writes to DM

Earlier on Friday, post-mortem of Ansari’s remains was conducted at the Banda Medical College and Hospital. However, his son, Umar Ansari, has demanded that his father’s post-mortem be conducted by a team of doctors from AIIMS Delhi.

In a letter to District Magistrate (DM) Banda, Umar asked that doctors from AIIMS, Delhi should be roped in to conduct the deceased gangster’s autopsy as the family does not trust the medico-legal system in Banda district.

“It (post-mortem) is their procedure. I have written a letter saying that it should be done by doctors at AIIMS Delhi. We don’t trust the medical system, government and administration here…You know why I am saying this…Panchnama is done. District Magistrate has to make a decision. Let’s see what he decides. The postmortem has not begun…,” he said.

“We hope that the court will help investigate the suspicions that we are expressing. We will consult our legal team. We are confident that this is not a natural death but an orchestrated murder,” he added.

Afsha Ansari may attend husband’s funeral in disguise

According to local media reports citing police sources, it is believed that Mukhtar Ansari’s wife, Afsha Ansari, may attend the funeral in disguise. Afsha is on the run since the Enforcement Directorate (ED) implicated her in two money laundering cases.

The probe agency has issued lookout notice for Afsha Ansari while the police have announced a bounty on her head.

Afsha, who is absconding for the past two years, may attempt to attend the funeral ceremony in disguise, the police believe and as such certain measures have been taken to arrest her if she indeed does come to the funeral.

Official said female cops in civilian clothing have been deployed at Mukhtar Ansari’s Ghazipur residence as well as the Kalibagh cemetery where the gangster-politician will be laid to rest.

Abbas Ansari to miss funeral

Meanwhile, Mukhtar Ansari’s son, Abbas Ansari, who is also in jail, will likely not be able to attend his father’s funeral. Abbas had filed a plea in the Supreme Court seeking permission to attend his father’s last rites, however, the matter has not been heard in the apex court yet.

Mau MLA Abbas Ansari is currently lodged in UP’s Kasganj jail.

Mukhtar Ansari death

As per an official release, Mukhtar Ansari was brought to the Banda medical college at around 8.25 PM on Thursday in an unconscious state after he had complained of vomiting. A team of nine doctors attended to him but he died of cardiac arrest, it stated.

Earlier, Ansari was hospitalised for around 14 hours on Tuesday after he complained of abdominal pain.

UP court judicial probe

Ansari’s family has alleged that he died due to “slow poisoning” which he was subjected to in prison. Several opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and AIMIM supremo Asaduddin Owaisi, have expressed their apprehensions about Ansari’s demise and called for a inquiry.

Following the allegations, a court in Uttar Pradesh Friday ordered a judicial probe into the death of the jailed gangster.

Banda Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Bhagwan Das Gupta ordered a judicial inquiry into Ansari’s death. The CJM appointed Garima Singh, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (MP-MLA Court Banda) as the investigating officer in the case, officials said, adding that CJM Das has sought the probe report within a month.

(With inputs from agencies)