Pose a question after gangster goes AWOL heading for American State (6)

I believe the answer is:

alaska

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'american state' is the definition.
(Alaska is an example)

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for alaska that I've seen before include "Most northerly US state" , "Food item baked" , "Isolated US state" , "Coldest US state" , "that may be baked? Not by the sun" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times (Crosaire) and the Irish Times.

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