Lucknow- The recent demise of mafia don-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, attributed to a cardiac arrest while in custody at Banda Medical College, has ignited a debate over the law-and-order situation in Uttar Pradesh.

The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered a judicial probe into Mukhtar Ansari's death. The government has sought a report in a month. The order for judicial inquiry was issued by Chief Judicial Magistrate Bhagwan Das Gupta. Additional CJM (MP/MLA Court) Banda, Garima Singh has been appointed as the investigating officer for the probe.

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has raised concerns, calling for a thorough investigation supervised by a Supreme Court judge into such suspicious incidents.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati, too echoed Yadav's sentiments, calling for a high-level inquiry into Ansari's demise. She emphasized the seriousness of the allegations raised by Ansari's family and stressed the necessity of uncovering the truth.

Samajwadi Party's MLAs including Sangram Yadav, Virendra Yadav, Jaikishan Sahu and many other party office bearers met Mukhtar's elder brother and former MLA Shibgatullah Ansari and SP MLA from Mohammadabad Suhaib Ansari.

In a post in Hindi on X, Akhilesh Yadav emphasized the paramount duty of the government to safeguard lives under all circumstances, stating," It is the first responsibility and duty of the government to protect someone's life in every situation and at every place. The death of a hostage or prisoner in any of the following circumstances will erode public confidence in the judicial process:

• While confined in the police station

• In a fight inside the jail -

• ⁠On falling ill inside the prison

• While being taken to court

• While being taken to the hospital

• during treatment in hospital

• By showing false encounter

• By showing false suicide

• By showing casualties in an accident

All such doubtful cases should be investigated under the supervision of a Supreme Court judge. The way the government bypasses the judicial process and adopts other methods is completely illegal. A government that cannot protect life has no right to remain in power. Uttar Pradesh is going through the worst phase of 'government anarchy'. This is 'zero hour' of law and order in UP.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati also pitched for a high-level probe into Ansari's death. In a post, the ex CM wrote, " The persistent apprehensions and serious allegations made by Mukhtar Ansari's family regarding his death in jail require a high-level investigation so that the true facts of his death can be revealed. In such a situation, it is natural for his family to be sad. May nature give them the strength to bear this sorrow."