A month following the demise of Mukhtar Ansari, the notorious gangster-turned-politician, during his incarceration, a significant development has emerged regarding the circumstances surrounding his death. Uttar Pradesh officials have confirmed that an exhaustive lab analysis found no evidence of poisoning in Ansari's system, contrary to assertions made by his family.
Initial reports from the postmortem examination indicated "myocardial refraction" or a heart attack as the cause of Ansari's passing on March 28. Despite these findings, Ansari's family maintained steadfastly that he had been deliberately poisoned while in custody.
However, on Wednesday, officials disclosed that the Forensic Science Lab's comprehensive assessment ruled out any traces of poison in Ansari's viscera. This pivotal report, evaluating the internal organs like the liver, spleen, stomach, and bladder, was subsequently submitted to the investigative panel, headed by Banda Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate.
In response to this development, Afzal Ansari, Mukhtar's brother and a Lok Sabha election candidate from Ghazipur on a Samajwadi Party ticket, voiced skepticism regarding the credibility of both the postmortem and viscera reports. Afzal contended that the correct samples for investigation were not properly handled and criticized the expedited timeframe of the analysis, suggesting a cover-up by the BJP-led government in Uttar Pradesh.
Moreover, Afzal raised concerns about the omission of nail and hair samples for examination, asserting that their inclusion could have provided definitive evidence of poisoning. He questioned the procedural integrity of the investigation, alleging mishandling of the sample and a deviation from assigned protocols.
The controversy surrounding Ansari's demise, a five-time MLA from Uttar Pradesh's Mau, continues to unfold, with familial suspicions conflicting with official reports attributing his death to cardiac arrest. As Afzal Ansari presses for further scrutiny into the investigation, the debate over Ansari's passing underscores the complexities of justice and accountability within the state's political landscape.
