In 3 years, Mukhtar Ansari got medical attention 84 times in jail: Govt

Mukhtar Ansari, a five-time MLA, had been incarcerated since 2005 following his surrender in a communal riot case in Mau, resulting in seven deaths. He was lodged in various jails across Uttar Pradesh before being transferred to Banda jail in April 2021, following his return from Punjab where he had been detained for over two years.

Prior to his relocation to Banda, Mukhtar was hospitalised at Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute (SGPGI) in Lucknow for two days in January 2018. He was referred to SGPGI from Banda district hospital, having been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease – Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction and post-myocardial infarction angina (pain).

According to the government official, in September 2018, Mukhtar’s wife, Afsha Ansari, petitioned the then President, pointing out that her husband suffered from severe ailments including high BP, diabetes, disease of the back bone (spondylitis and slip disc). She highlighted the lack of adequate treatment, also noting that Mukhtar had suffered a heart attack previously too, while in Banda jail.

Mukhtar was shifted to Ropar jail in January, 2019 and he remained there till April, 2021.

During his time in Ropar jail, Mukhtar wrote to the then President on January 2, 2019, detailing his health issues, including two prior cardiac arrests inside the jail and ongoing conditions such as high blood sugar and diabetes.

According to government statement, Mukhtar received outpatient care at Nehru Hospital’s outpatient department in Chandigarh from March 2019 onwards, due to his ailments including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and a prolapsed disc (L5/S1) with radiculopathy.

Medical reports from Rupnagar in Punjab indicated Mukhtar’s diagnosis of a prolapsed disc: L-5,S1 with radiculopathy, NIDDM (noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus), and depression with somatic symptoms, said the government statement.