Tripura DGP Anurag found dead at police HQ; autopsy ordered
Synopsis
Tripura's top cop, DGP Anurag — a 1994-batch IPS officer who chaired the SIT on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and served with the UN in Kosovo — was found dead in the bathroom of his chamber at Agartala's Police Headquarters on Monday. With the cause of death unconfirmed and the government yet to make an official statement, the autopsy report is now the critical next step.
Key Takeaways
Tripura DGP Anurag was found dead in the bathroom of his chamber at the state Police Headquarters , Agartala , on Monday, 20 July .
He was declared brought dead at the Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital .
A post-mortem examination has been ordered; the official cause of death remains unconfirmed.
Anurag was a 1994-batch IPS officer of the Tripura cadre who took charge as DGP on 17 May last year.
He had chaired the MHA-constituted SIT probing the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and served with the UN Mission in Kosovo in 2003-04 .
The Tripura government had not issued an official statement on the circumstances of his death as of Monday.
Tripura Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag, a 1994-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in the bathroom adjoining his chamber at the state Police Headquarters in Agartala on Monday, 20 July, officials said. He was rushed to the Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.
What Doctors Said
Dr Pradip Bhowmik, Head of the Department of Medicine at the hospital, confirmed that Anurag showed no signs of life upon arrival and was declared dead after physicians examined his vital parameters. 'We have sent the body of Anurag for post-mortem examination. The exact cause of death can only be confirmed after the post-mortem report is received,' Dr Bhowmik told reporters.
The Tripura government and the state Police Headquarters had not officially announced the circumstances or cause of death as of Monday.
A Decorated Career in Indian Policing
Anurag took charge as Tripura DGP on 17 May last year, succeeding Amitabh Ranjan, a 1988-batch IPS officer. Prior to this appointment, he had served as Director General of Police (Intelligence), Tripura.
Academically distinguished, Anurag held a postgraduate degree in Food Technology from the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore, a Master's in Police Management from Osmania University, and a postgraduate diploma in Cyber Crimes from NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad. He was also a Certified Fraud Examiner from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), USA.
Key Postings Across Decades
Anurag's policing career in Tripura began in 1995, during which he served as Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Longtharai Valley and as Superintendent of Police of the erstwhile undivided West and South Tripura districts. He also held roles as Superintendent of Police, Special Branch, and Assistant Inspector General of Police (Headquarters).
In 2003-04, he served with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo. Between 2005 and 2013, he was on central deputation with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), rising from Superintendent of Police to Deputy Inspector General.
After returning to Tripura, he served as Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) from 2013 to 2016. A second central deputation from 2016 to 2023 saw him hold senior roles in the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and again in the CBI as Joint Director and Additional Director.
Notably, Anurag also chaired the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to probe the 1984 anti-Sikh riots — one of the most sensitive mandates in Indian policing history.
Investigation and What Comes Next
The post-mortem examination is currently underway, and the cause of death remains unconfirmed pending the autopsy report. Senior officials from the state government are expected to make a formal statement once the findings are available. The circumstances surrounding his death inside the Police Headquarters — the nerve centre of Tripura's law enforcement — have prompted significant concern among officials and the policing community.
Point of View
Making the opacity around his death all the more conspicuous. The autopsy report will be critical, but so will be the speed and candour with which Tripura's government communicates its findings to the public.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tripura DGP Anurag and when was he found dead?
Anurag was the Director General of Police of Tripura, a 1994-batch IPS officer of the Tripura cadre. He was found dead on Monday, 20 July, in the bathroom attached to his chamber at the state Police Headquarters in Agartala.
What is the cause of Tripura DGP Anurag's death?
The cause of death has not been officially confirmed. A post-mortem examination has been ordered, and according to Dr Pradip Bhowmik of the Agartala Government Medical College, the exact cause can only be determined after the autopsy report is received.
When did Anurag become Tripura's DGP?
Anurag took charge as Tripura's Director General of Police on 17 May last year, succeeding Amitabh Ranjan, a 1988-batch IPS officer. Before this, he served as DGP (Intelligence), Tripura.
What were the key roles held by Anurag during his IPS career?
Anurag held several senior positions including stints with the CBI as Joint Director and Additional Director, service with the UN Mission in Kosovo in 2003-04, and chairmanship of the MHA-constituted SIT probing the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. He also served in the BPR&D and CISF during central deputation.
Has the Tripura government issued an official statement on the DGP's death?
As of Monday, 20 July, neither the Tripura government nor the state Police Headquarters had officially announced the circumstances or cause of DGP Anurag's death. An official statement is expected once the post-mortem findings are available.
