CM Manik Saha pays last respects to DGP Anurag Dhankar

Key Takeaways

Tripura Chief Minister Dr.

Manik Saha paid his last respects to DGP Anurag Dhankar (IPS) at the Secretariat premises in Agartala on 21 July 2026 .

The Chief Minister described the death as an untimely passing , indicating it was sudden and unexpected.

DGP Dhankar was the Director General of Police — the highest-ranking officer in the Tripura Police hierarchy.

Saha praised the officer's dedication to public safety, professionalism, and sense of duty as qualities that will be long remembered.

The Chief Minister offered prayers for the departed soul and extended deep condolences to the bereaved family .

The state will need to address police leadership succession following this institutional loss.

Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha paid his last respects to the mortal remains of Director General of Police Anurag Dhankar (IPS) at the Secretariat premises in Agartala on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, mourning the untimely passing of one of the state's most dedicated senior police officers.

Context

Writing in Bengali on X, Chief Minister Dr. Saha said he offered his final tribute to the mortal remains of the state's Director General of Police at the Secretariat. 'আজ সচিবালয় প্রাঙ্গণে রাজ্য পুলিশের মহানির্দেশক অনুরাগ ধ্যানকর মহোদয়ের পার্থিব দেহের প্রতি আমার শেষ শ্রদ্ধা নিবেদন করি' ('Today at the Secretariat premises, I paid my last respects to the mortal remains of the Director General of State Police, Anurag Dhankar'). The Chief Minister described the occasion as a profound personal and institutional loss for Tripura.

The tribute was made publicly at the Tripura Secretariat, signalling the high regard in which DGP Dhankar was held by the state's highest executive. The presence of the Chief Minister at the Secretariat premises for the final rites underscores the gravity of the loss for the state administration.

Policy Backdrop

The Director General of Police is the apex uniformed officer of a state's police force, responsible for overall superintendence of law and order, internal security, and policing operations. Anurag Dhankar, an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, held the highest rank in the Tripura Police hierarchy, making his untimely death a significant institutional moment for the state's security apparatus.

Tripura, a northeastern state that has historically navigated complex internal security challenges, places considerable weight on experienced and committed leadership at the helm of its police force. The Chief Minister specifically highlighted DGP Dhankar's dedication to public safety and law-and-order maintenance, his professionalism, and his sense of duty as qualities that would be long remembered.

Stakeholders and Impact

Chief Minister Dr. Saha conveyed that the state has lost 'a skilled and devoted police officer' through this untimely death. He offered prayers for eternal peace for the departed soul and expressed deep condolences to the bereaved family. The phrase used — 'অকাল প্রয়াণ' ('untimely passing') — indicates that DGP Dhankar's death was sudden and unexpected.

The loss of a serving Director General of Police will necessitate administrative decisions regarding leadership of the Tripura Police at the earliest. Officers, personnel, and the families they protect across the state will feel the absence of a figure described by the Chief Minister as a paragon of professional commitment.

What's Next

The Tripura government is expected to make arrangements for the state's police leadership in the wake of DGP Dhankar's passing. Institutional condolences and tributes from the police fraternity and civil administration are anticipated in the coming days. The government will also need to address the question of a successor to ensure continuity of command within the Tripura Police.

The Chief Minister's public tribute sets the tone for an official period of mourning within the state's administrative and security establishment, reflecting the irreplaceable role that senior IPS officers play in maintaining the fabric of governance in a strategically important northeastern state.

Point of View

The untimely death of the top uniformed officer creates both an emotional and a structural vacuum. Dr. Saha's emphasis on Dhankar's professionalism and duty reflects the BJP-led government's consistent messaging around law-and-order governance as a pillar of its administrative identity in Tripura. The speed with which the government manages succession at the DGP level will be an early test of institutional resilience.

NationPress

21 Jul 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Anurag Dhankar?

Anurag Dhankar was an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer serving as the Director General of Police of Tripura — the highest-ranking officer in the state's police hierarchy — at the time of his untimely death in July 2026.

How did Tripura CM Manik Saha react to DGP Anurag Dhankar's death?

Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha paid his last respects to DGP Dhankar's mortal remains at the Tripura Secretariat on 21 July 2026 , praising his dedication, professionalism, and duty, and offering condolences to the bereaved family.

Where did the last rites tribute for DGP Anurag Dhankar take place?

The tribute was held at the Secretariat premises in Agartala, Tripura , where Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha personally paid his last respects on 21 July 2026 .

What does the death of Tripura's DGP mean for the state?

The untimely death of the Director General of Police leaves a significant leadership vacuum in the Tripura Police . The state government will need to appoint a successor to ensure continuity of law-and-order administration.

What did CM Manik Saha say about DGP Dhankar's contribution?

Dr. Saha stated that DGP Dhankar's dedication to public safety and law-and-order maintenance, his professionalism, and his sense of duty would always be remembered, calling him 'a skilled and devoted police officer.'