Tripura DGP death: CPI(M) demands judicial probe, meets Governor
Synopsis
The death of Tripura's top cop inside his own office has drawn a rare multi-party opposition front — CPI(M), Congress, and CPI — all demanding a High Court-supervised probe. With the police inquiry already reconstituted once and the Governor yet to act, the case is fast becoming a test of institutional credibility for the BJP-led Tripura government.
Key Takeaways
CPI(M) delegations led by Jitendra Chaudhury and former CM Manik Sarkar met Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu on 28 July 2025 , demanding a judicial probe into DGP Anurag's death.
DGP Anurag , a 1994-batch IPS officer, was found dead in the washroom of his official chamber at the Tripura police headquarters on 20 July 2025 .
The existing ten-member police probe team , led by SP Namit Pathak , was reconstituted on 24 July after an initial three-member unit was formed.
Opposition parties — including Congress and CPI — have separately demanded a Tripura High Court -monitored inquiry, alleging possible foul play.
DGP Anurag's tenure was scheduled to continue until 17 May 2027 ; he had taken charge just two months earlier on 17 May 2025 .
The opposition Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday, 28 July 2025, stepped up pressure on the Tripura government over the death of Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag, with two separate delegations meeting Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu in Agartala and submitting memoranda demanding a judicial probe supervised by a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court. The demand comes a week after the senior-most IPS officer in the state was found dead under what opposition parties have called deeply suspicious circumstances.
Two Delegations, One Demand
The first delegation was led by Leader of the Opposition and state CPI(M) Secretary Jitendra Chaudhury; the second by former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who helmed the state for 20 years from 1998 to 2018. Both separately met the Governor and pressed for the inquiry to be placed under judicial supervision rather than left to the existing police team.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Chaudhury described the 20 July death of the DGP inside his official chamber as 'unexpected, unnatural and unbelievable.' He questioned whether the investigation team — headed by Superintendent of Police of West Tripura district Namit Pathak — could independently uncover the truth. 'We have no objection to the investigating team continuing its investigation. However, in the prevailing environment, it will be difficult for the existing police team alone to bring out the truth. That is why we have requested the Governor to impress upon the state government that the investigation should be conducted under the supervision of a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court,' Chaudhury said.
Sarkar Alleges Attempts to Avoid Full Inquiry
Former Chief Minister Sarkar alleged that there appeared to be efforts to sidestep a comprehensive investigation. 'This is not merely the CPI(M)'s demand. It reflects the aspirations of the people of Tripura, who want a fair, transparent and impartial investigation into the death of the DGP,' he said. Sarkar, also a former CPI(M) politburo member, noted that Tripura now has its own High Court, removing any procedural barrier to constituting a judicial committee — unlike in earlier years when such matters required involvement of the Gauhati High Court.
According to Sarkar, the Governor acknowledged that the incident was unprecedented, warranting serious examination and raising important questions relating to governance, policing, and public confidence. The Governor reportedly assured the delegation he would examine the memorandum. The CPI(M) said it would decide its next course of action after receiving the Governor's response.
The Investigation So Far
The body of DGP Anurag, a 1994-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Tripura cadre, was found under mysterious circumstances in the washroom attached to his official chamber at the state police headquarters in Agartala on 20 July 2025. On 24 July, the acting DGP constituted a three-member probe team led by SP Namit Pathak. That team has since been reconstituted into a ten-member unit, also under Pathak's leadership, including officers from the Cyber Crime Police Station, Amtali Police Station, West Agartala Women Police Station, and the Battala and Ramnagar Outposts, along with an inspector from KTD Singh Police Training Academy and the previous investigating officer, Subhojit Deb.
Broader Opposition Front
The CPI(M)'s push is not isolated. The Indian National Congress (INC), the Communist Party of India (CPI), and several other political parties have demanded a High Court-monitored judicial inquiry since 20 July. Congress had separately urged the Tripura High Court to take suo motu cognisance of the case, alleging the possibility of foul play rather than suicide. Separate protest rallies have already been organised by the Left parties and Congress across Tripura pressing this demand.
Who Was DGP Anurag
DGP Anurag took charge as Tripura's police chief on 17 May 2025, having previously served as the state's Director General of Police (Intelligence). His tenure was scheduled to run until 17 May 2027. During a distinguished career, he served with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, held the positions of Joint Director and Additional Director in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and served in the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). He also led the Special Investigation Team constituted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to investigate the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
With the Governor yet to respond formally and the reconstituted police probe under opposition scrutiny, the political pressure on the Tripura government over this case is unlikely to ease in the days ahead.
Point of View
But the more pressing question is institutional: can a police team investigate the death of its own chief without a structural conflict of interest? The reconstitution of the probe team — from three members to ten — suggests awareness of that vulnerability, yet it does not resolve it. Tripura's BJP government faces a credibility test it cannot afford to mishandle; the DGP was not merely a senior officer but a figure who had led the SIT on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and served in UN peacekeeping — his death demands an answer commensurate with his stature. The Governor's response, when it comes, will signal whether constitutional mechanisms can provide the insulation that the political executive clearly cannot.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Tripura's DGP Anurag?
DGP Anurag, a 1994-batch IPS officer and Tripura's senior-most police official, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in the washroom attached to his official chamber at the state police headquarters in Agartala on 20 July 2025. The exact cause of death remains under investigation, with opposition parties alleging possible foul play.
Why is CPI(M) demanding a judicial probe into the DGP's death?
CPI(M) argues that the existing police-led investigation cannot independently uncover the truth given the prevailing environment, and that a probe supervised by a sitting Tripura High Court judge is necessary for a fair, transparent, and credible inquiry. The party's delegations submitted memoranda to Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu on 28 July 2025 making this case.
Who is leading the current investigation into DGP Anurag's death?
The probe is led by West Tripura district Superintendent of Police Namit Pathak, heading a reconstituted ten-member team that includes officers from multiple police stations and units. The team was first formed on 24 July 2025 and subsequently expanded.
Which other parties have demanded a judicial inquiry?
The Indian National Congress, the Communist Party of India, and several other opposition parties have also demanded a High Court-monitored judicial probe since 20 July 2025. Congress separately urged the Tripura High Court to take suo motu cognisance of the case, alleging possible foul play rather than suicide.
Who was DGP Anurag and what was his background?
DGP Anurag was a 1994-batch IPS officer of the Tripura cadre who took charge as the state's police chief on 17 May 2025, with his tenure scheduled to run until 17 May 2027. He had a distinguished career that included service with the UN Mission in Kosovo, senior roles in the CBI, and leadership of the SIT probing the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
