Tripura Assembly uproar over DGP Anurag's death: CM Saha makes statement
Synopsis
The death of a sitting state police chief inside his own headquarters — ruled by the government as an apparent suicide — has paralysed the Tripura Assembly for two straight days. With the opposition demanding a High Court-monitored inquiry and the government citing procedural rules to block floor debate, the standoff over DGP Anurag's death is fast becoming the defining political flashpoint of Tripura's Monsoon Session.
Key Takeaways
The Tripura Legislative Assembly witnessed fresh uproar on 28 August over the death of DGP Anurag , whose body was found on 20 July in his official chamber's washroom at the state police headquarters in Agartala .
Chief Minister Manik Saha stated on the floor of the House that the nature of the death 'appeared to be suicide,' invoking Article 194 to cite the autopsy report.
CPI(M) legislators led by LoP Jitendra Chaudhury trooped into the Well of the House; opposition Congress and CPI(M) demanded a judicial inquiry by a sitting Tripura High Court judge.
The investigation team, now comprising 10 members under SP Namit Pathak , has already visited Delhi and is examining forensic reports, CCTV footage, and digital evidence.
DGP Anurag had assumed office on 17 May 2025 ; his tenure was to run until 17 May 2027 .
Opposition parties have held separate protest rallies across Tripura since 20 July , calling the in-service death of a state police chief 'unprecedented in India.'
The Tripura Legislative Assembly on Friday, 28 August witnessed a second consecutive day of heated exchanges between treasury and opposition benches over the death of state Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag, whose body was found under mysterious circumstances in the washroom attached to his official chamber at the state police headquarters in Agartala on 20 July. The uproar forced Chief Minister Manik Saha to make a formal statement on the floor of the House.
Uproar in the House
Opposition Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] legislators, led by Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury, trooped into the Well of the House and raised slogans against the state government during the reference period. The commotion mirrored scenes from the previous day's session. Following repeated appeals by Speaker Ram Pada Jamatia and after Chief Minister Saha agreed to make a statement, the Left legislators returned to their seats.
What the Chief Minister Said
Invoking Article 194 of the Constitution, Chief Minister Manik Saha — who also holds the Home portfolio — told the House that he could refer to the autopsy report in the interest of the people and transparency. 'The body of DGP Anurag was found hanging in the washroom attached to his official chamber at the state police headquarters here on 20 July. The nature of the death appeared to be suicide,' Saha said. He added that if anyone was found to have committed any illegal act in connection with the DGP's death, 'strict action would be taken as per law,' and urged all concerned not to indulge in speculation before the investigation is completed.
Opposition Demands and Procedural Standoff
Opposition Congress and CPI(M) members accused the state government of preventing a full discussion on the issue. Speaker Jamatia clarified that the Chief Minister's statement was made under Rule 361 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Tripura Legislative Assembly, under which 'no immediate debate or discussion is permitted on the floor of the House at the time the statement is made.' LoP Chaudhury and former minister and senior Congress leader Sudip Roy Barman separately called the death of an in-service state police chief at his official chamber 'unprecedented in India.' Both CPI(M) and Congress reiterated their demand for a judicial inquiry headed by a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court.
The Investigation So Far
On 24 July, Acting DGP G.S. Rao constituted a three-member team, led by West Tripura district Superintendent of Police Namit Pathak, to investigate the death. The team was subsequently expanded to 10 members under Pathak's leadership. Chief Minister Saha told the House that the probe was being closely monitored by Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Manchak Ipper and that the investigating team had already visited Delhi in connection with the case. The team is examining post-mortem and forensic reports, digital evidence, mobile call records, electronic devices, CCTV footage, and other relevant materials, according to Saha.
Background and Timeline
DGP Anurag had taken 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 continue until 17 May 2027. Since 20 July, opposition parties including Congress, CPI(M), and CPI have organised separate protest rallies across Tripura demanding a High Court-monitored judicial inquiry. The Monsoon Session of the Tripura Assembly, during which these exchanges have taken place, opened on Thursday. How the government responds to opposition pressure for a judicial probe will be closely watched in the days ahead.
Point of View
But it feeds the perception of evasion in a case that is, by any measure, extraordinary: no sitting state DGP in India has died under such circumstances at his own headquarters. The government's insistence on a police-led probe, rather than a judicial one, is the crux of the credibility problem — and until an independent mechanism is established, the Assembly uproar is unlikely to subside.
NationPress
28 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Tripura DGP Anurag die?
The body of DGP Anurag was found on 20 July in the washroom attached to his official chamber at the state police headquarters in Agartala. Chief Minister Manik Saha told the Tripura Assembly that 'the nature of the death appeared to be suicide,' though the circumstances remain under investigation.
What is the opposition demanding in the Tripura DGP death case?
Opposition parties — CPI(M) and Congress — are demanding a judicial inquiry headed by a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court . They argue that a police-led probe is insufficient given the seniority of the deceased and the unusual circumstances of his death.
What has the Tripura government done to investigate DGP Anurag's death?
Acting DGP G.S. Rao constituted a three-member team on 24 July , later expanded to 10 members under SP Namit Pathak . The team has visited Delhi and is examining forensic reports, CCTV footage, mobile call records, and digital evidence, according to Chief Minister Saha.
Why was there uproar in the Tripura Assembly over this issue?
Opposition legislators staged protests in the Well of the House, alleging the government was blocking discussion on the DGP's death. The Speaker clarified that the Chief Minister's statement was made under Rule 361 , which does not permit immediate debate — a procedural point the opposition described as an attempt to suppress scrutiny.
Who was DGP Anurag and when did he take charge?
DGP Anurag assumed charge as Tripura's Director General of Police on 17 May 2025 , having previously served as the state's DGP (Intelligence). His tenure was scheduled to run until 17 May 2027 , making his death more than two years before his expected retirement from the post.
