Two Uttar Pradesh police constables have faced disciplinary action for allegedly posting comments on social media in support of Mukhtar Ansari, who passed away last week, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
Mukhtar Ansari, a five-time MLA, died at Rani Durgawati Medical College after being transferred from Banda jail due to deteriorating health. His funeral in Ghazipur was conducted under heavy security measures.
Constable Faiyaz Khan, stationed at a police station in Lucknow, reportedly made supportive remarks about Ansari on his WhatsApp status and raised doubts about his death. Upon the circulation of his WhatsApp status, local authorities removed Khan from his current posting and placed him in the police lines. Permission has been sought from the Election Commission for his suspension due to the ongoing model code of conduct.
In another incident, Constable Aftab Alam from Chandauli, posted at the police lines, expressed support for Ansari on Facebook and referred to him as a “messiah.”
Additional Superintendent of Police, Anil Kumar Singh, stated that Alam’s actions violated the social media policy of the Uttar Pradesh police and the state government’s conduct rules. Alam has been suspended, and departmental action has been initiated against him.
Mukhtar Ansari had been incarcerated in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab since 2005, facing over 60 criminal cases. His death was confirmed to be due to cardiac arrest through a post-mortem examination. However, amid allegations by his family of “slow poisoning” in Banda jail, opposition parties raised questions, leading to a magisterial inquiry.
