Tripura DGP Anurag cremated with state honours in Baghpat, UP
Synopsis
Tripura's top cop was found dead under mysterious circumstances in his own office washroom — and the state's political establishment is now demanding answers. With over 500 mourners at his funeral, a decorated 30-year career cut short, and opposition parties pushing for a High Court-monitored probe, the circumstances surrounding DGP Anurag's death are far from settled.
Key Takeaways
DGP Anurag , a 1994-batch IPS officer and Tripura's senior-most police official, was cremated with full state honours in Baraut, Baghpat (UP) on 22 July .
His body was found under mysterious circumstances — reportedly hanging — in the washroom of his official chamber at Tripura Police Headquarters, Agartala on 20 July .
Over 500 mourners , including serving and retired personnel from Tripura and Uttar Pradesh , attended the last rites.
Rao confirmed a dedicated investigation team is likely to be constituted to probe the 'unnatural death'.
Opposition parties — CPI-M , Congress , and others — have demanded a judicial inquiry monitored by a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court .
Anurag's tenure as DGP had been scheduled to last until June 2028 ; he took charge on 17 May 2025 .
Tripura's Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag, a 1994-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, was cremated with full state honours on Wednesday, 22 July at his ancestral town of Baraut in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat district, according to officials. His son, Abhishek, lit the funeral pyre at the cremation ground near Bawli Chungi on the Delhi-Saharanpur highway, in the presence of family members, senior police officers, and hundreds of mourners.
Final Journey and Guard of Honour
Before the cremation, the Uttar Pradesh Police accorded a ceremonial guard of honour to the 60-year-old officer in recognition of his distinguished service spanning more than three decades. A funeral procession stretching nearly one kilometre preceded the last rites, with over 500 people participating — among them serving and retired police personnel from Tripura and Uttar Pradesh, administrative officials, elected representatives, and residents of Baraut.
Anurag's mortal remains were flown from Agartala to his residence on Gandhi Road, Baraut, shortly after midnight on Tuesday, accompanied by family members and senior police officials. From Wednesday morning, mourners from across sections of society gathered at his residence to pay their respects, with ministers and civil administration officials offering floral tributes.
Mysterious Death at Police Headquarters
Anurag's body was found under mysterious circumstances in the washroom attached to his official chamber at the State Police Headquarters in Agartala on Monday, 20 July. According to police officials, he was found hanging and was immediately rushed to the Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.
Acting Director General of Police G.S. Rao stated on Tuesday that a separate investigation team is likely to be constituted to probe what he described as an 'unnatural death'. He confirmed that a routine inquiry has already been initiated, with a dedicated team expected to conduct a more detailed examination of the circumstances surrounding the death.
State and Political Response
In Agartala on Tuesday, Tripura Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu, Chief Minister Manik Saha, several state ministers, Chief Secretary Jitendra Kumar Sinha, Home Secretary Abhishek Singh, and numerous senior civil, police, and security officials paid their last respects. Chief Minister Saha described Anurag as 'an honest, efficient and dedicated police officer whose commitment to public safety and maintaining law and order would always be remembered.'
Opposition parties, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), the Indian National Congress, and several others, have demanded a judicial inquiry monitored by a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court to ascertain the full circumstances behind the death of the state's senior-most IPS officer. Former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, Leader of Opposition Jitendra Choudhury, and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Sudip Roy Barman were among those who visited the hospital on Monday to offer condolences.
A Decorated Three-Decade Career
Anurag took charge as Tripura's DGP on 17 May 2025, succeeding Amitabh Ranjan, a 1988-batch IPS officer, after previously serving as Director General of Police (Intelligence), Tripura. He hailed from Biharipur village in Baghpat district.
His career included postings as Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Longtharai Valley in 1995, Superintendent of Police in the erstwhile undivided West and South Tripura districts, and a stint with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo during 2003-04. Between 2005 and 2013, he served on central deputation as Joint Director and Additional Director in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He also chaired the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to probe the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Anurag was the recipient of the Police Medal for Meritorious Service and the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service. His tenure as DGP was scheduled to continue until June 2028.
With a dedicated investigation team yet to be formally constituted, the circumstances surrounding his death remain under scrutiny — and political pressure for a court-monitored probe is likely to intensify in the days ahead.
Point of View
Congress, and others have converged on a single demand — a High Court-monitored judicial inquiry — signals that the routine police investigation is already seen as insufficient. What is conspicuously absent is any official account of what Anurag was working on in the days before his death. A decorated officer who chaired the 1984 anti-Sikh riots SIT and spent years in the CBI does not lack for professional adversaries. Until the probe is independent and its findings public, the 'mysterious circumstances' framing will only deepen suspicion.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Tripura DGP Anurag?
Anurag was a 1994-batch Indian Police Service officer of the Tripura cadre who assumed charge as Director General of Police of Tripura on 17 May 2025. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he served in the CBI, the UN Mission in Kosovo, and chaired the SIT probing the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. He was awarded both the Police Medal for Meritorious Service and the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service.
How did Tripura DGP Anurag die?
According to police officials, Anurag was found hanging in the washroom attached to his official chamber at the Tripura State Police Headquarters in Agartala on Monday, 20 July. He was rushed to the Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. The exact circumstances remain under investigation and have been officially described as an 'unnatural death'.
Is there an investigation into DGP Anurag's death?
Acting DGP G.S. Rao confirmed on Tuesday that a routine inquiry has been initiated and that a dedicated investigation team is likely to be constituted for a more detailed probe. Opposition parties — including the CPI-M and Congress — have separately demanded a judicial inquiry monitored by a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court.
Where was DGP Anurag cremated?
Anurag was cremated with full state honours at the cremation ground near Bawli Chungi on the Delhi-Saharanpur highway in Baraut, Baghpat district, Uttar Pradesh — his ancestral hometown — on Wednesday, 22 July. His son Abhishek lit the funeral pyre in the presence of over 500 mourners.
What did Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha say about Anurag's death?
Chief Minister Manik Saha, who paid his last respects in Agartala on Tuesday, described Anurag as 'an honest, efficient and dedicated police officer whose commitment to public safety and maintaining law and order would always be remembered.' Saha was among several senior state officials who attended the tribute ceremony at the Agartala Police Headquarters.
