Tripura DGP Anurag's last rites in UP's Baghpat on Wednesday; state mourning declared
Synopsis
Tripura's top cop, DGP Anurag — a decorated 1994-batch IPS officer who chaired the SIT on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots — was found dead in the bathroom of his own official chamber at the state Police Headquarters. With the post-mortem pending and opposition parties demanding a High Court-monitored judicial inquiry, the death of one of Tripura's most senior officers has triggered a full-blown political and institutional reckoning.
Key Takeaways
DGP Anurag's body was found in a hanging position in the bathroom of his official chamber at Tripura Police Headquarters, Agartala , on Monday .
He was declared brought dead at Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital ; post-mortem report is awaited.
Last rites will be performed on Wednesday at Baraut, Baghpat district, Uttar Pradesh .
The Tripura government declared a one-day state mourning on Tuesday, 21 July .
Rao confirmed a separate investigation team is likely to be formed to probe the 'unnatural death'.
Congress and CPI(M) have separately demanded a judicial inquiry monitored by the Tripura High Court .
Tripura Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag, a 1994-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer whose body was found under mysterious circumstances in the bathroom of his official chamber at the state Police Headquarters in Agartala, will be cremated on Wednesday at Baraut in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat district, officials confirmed. The Tripura government declared a one-day state mourning on Tuesday, 21 July, as a mark of respect to the state's senior-most police officer.
Final Tributes in Agartala
Tributes were paid at two locations — first at the Police Headquarters and then at the Civil Secretariat in the New Capital Complex. Among those who paid their last respects were Tripura Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu, Chief Minister Manik Saha, several state ministers, Chief Secretary Jitendra Kumar Sinha, Home Secretary Abhishek Singh, and Acting Director General of Police G.S. Rao, along with senior civil, police, and security officials.
Five senior ministers, led by Agriculture and Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath, also visited the hospital and met Anurag's wife to convey their condolences. The ministers described him as an upright, honest, and highly efficient officer, though they refrained from commenting on the circumstances of his death.
Circumstances of Death and Probe
According to police officials, Anurag's body was found in a hanging position in the bathroom attached to his official chamber at the Police Headquarters on Monday. He was rushed to the Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital, where he was declared brought dead.
Dr Pradip Bhowmik, Head of the Department of Medicine at the hospital, told reporters: 'We have sent Anurag's body for post-mortem examination. The exact cause of death can only be confirmed after the post-mortem report is received.'
Chief Minister Manik Saha, who also holds the Home portfolio, visited the Police Headquarters immediately after the incident, accompanied by the Chief Secretary and Home Secretary, and held discussions with senior officials. Acting DGP G.S. Rao said on Tuesday that a separate investigation team is likely to be constituted to probe what he described as an 'unnatural death', while a routine inquiry has already been initiated.
Opposition Demands Judicial Inquiry
All major opposition parties — the Indian National Congress (Congress) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) — have separately demanded a judicial inquiry into the DGP's death. Former minister and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Sudip Roy Barman told reporters that only a judicial probe monitored by a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court could uncover the actual circumstances behind the death.
Leader of Opposition Jitendra Choudhury, who is also the CPI(M) Tripura state Secretary, demanded the inquiry be conducted under the supervision of the Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court. Former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and Tripura Left Front Convener Manik Dey also visited the hospital to offer condolences and meet the bereaved family. Both Sarkar and Choudhury described Anurag as a sincere officer who had managed law and order in Tripura with efficiency.
A Decorated Career Spanning Three Decades
Anurag took charge as Tripura's DGP on 17 May last year, succeeding Amitabh Ranjan, a 1988-batch IPS officer. Prior to that, he served as Director General of Police (Intelligence), Tripura.
Over a career spanning more than three decades, Anurag held several key postings. He served as Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Longtharai Valley from 1995, and later as Superintendent of Police of the erstwhile undivided West and South Tripura districts. He also served with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo during 2003–04.
Between 2005 and 2013, he was on central deputation as Joint Director and Additional Director in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). From 2016 to 2023, he served again on central deputation — with the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and the CBI. Notably, 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 a recipient of both the Police Medal for Meritorious Service and the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service. He was promoted to DGP (Intelligence) with effect from January 2024, before being appointed full DGP.
As the post-mortem report is awaited and calls for a judicial inquiry grow louder, the circumstances surrounding the death of one of Tripura's most decorated police officers are likely to remain a matter of intense scrutiny in the days ahead.
Point of View
And the institutional response so far raises more questions than it answers. A 'routine inquiry' led by the same police establishment the deceased headed is unlikely to satisfy either the public or the opposition, particularly given Anurag's track record on sensitive probes, including the 1984 anti-Sikh riots SIT. The demand for a High Court-monitored judicial inquiry is not merely political posturing — it reflects a legitimate concern about the independence of any internal investigation. The speed and transparency of the post-mortem process will be the first real test of whether Tripura's institutions can handle scrutiny of their own.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Tripura DGP Anurag die?
Anurag's body was found in a hanging position in the bathroom attached to his official chamber at the Tripura Police Headquarters in Agartala on Monday. He was rushed to Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. The exact cause of death is yet to be confirmed, pending the post-mortem report.
Where will DGP Anurag's last rites be performed?
The last rites of DGP Anurag will be performed on Wednesday morning at Baraut in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat district, his native place. His body was flown via Odisha and Delhi, accompanied by family members and senior police officials.
Why are opposition parties demanding a judicial inquiry into DGP Anurag's death?
Both the Congress and CPI(M) have argued that an internal police inquiry cannot be independent given that the deceased was the state's senior-most police officer. Congress leader Sudip Roy Barman and Leader of Opposition Jitendra Choudhury have demanded a probe monitored by a sitting judge or the Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court to ensure impartiality.
Who was DGP Anurag and what was his career background?
Anurag was a 1994-batch IPS officer of the Tripura cadre who took charge as the state's Director General of Police on 17 May last year. Over a three-decade career, he served with the UN Mission in Kosovo, held senior roles in the CBI and CISF, and chaired the SIT probing the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. He was a recipient of the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service.
What action has the Tripura government taken following the DGP's death?
The Tripura government declared a one-day state mourning on Tuesday, 21 July. Chief Minister Manik Saha visited the Police Headquarters and held discussions with senior officials. Acting DGP G.S. Rao confirmed that a separate investigation team is likely to be constituted to probe the unnatural death, alongside a routine inquiry already under way.
