The adopted son of renowned Sindhi poet Dr Akash Ansari has confessed to his murder, according to police reports on Monday.
Latif Akash, Dr. Ansari’s foster son, killed the poet with a sharp-edged weapon before setting his room on fire, officials confirmed. Police revealed that Latif, who struggled with drug addiction, often demanded money from his adopted father.
Investigators have conducted a DNA test on Latif, and authorities are now awaiting the forensic and post-mortem reports to confirm the findings. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Farrukh Lanjar asserted that the murder was deliberate, not accidental, and confirmed that officers had thoroughly collected all pertinent evidence.
Dr. Akash Ansari, a prominent revolutionary poet, writer, and intellectual from Sindh, tragically died in a fire in the Citizen Colony area of Qasimabad, Hyderabad. Although the circumstances of his death raised suspicions, authorities launched an investigation immediately.
Read: Dr Akash Ansari’s Death: Investigations Suggest Murder Before Fire in Hyderabad
Initial reports suggested that Dr. Ansari’s adopted son, Latif Ansari, sustained minor injuries in the incident. The fire originated in Dr. Ansari’s room, where he was sleeping, and initial assessments pointed to a possible short circuit despite a heater being in use.
Rescue teams confirmed that Dr. Ansari, aged 70, died at the scene. Latif Ansari received treatment at the Burns Ward of Civil Hospital.
Family sources initially planned Dr. Ansari’s funeral in his hometown of Badin. However, due to the suspicions surrounding his death, police intervened and brought the family back to Hyderabad. The body was returned to Civil Hospital for a post-mortem.
Close friends of Dr. Ansari have raised concerns about the possibility of foul play. Police indicated that the initial post-mortem findings revealed signs of injury consistent with a sharp object. Dr. Abdul Hamid Mughal, who performed the autopsy, confirmed deep wounds on Dr. Ansari’s body.
