Tripura DGP Anurag found dead at Police HQ; Opposition demands judicial probe
Synopsis
Tripura's top cop was found dead in the bathroom of his own office — and no official cause has been given. With the post-mortem pending and the Opposition demanding a High Court-supervised judicial inquiry, the mysterious death of DGP Anurag, a decorated 1994-batch IPS officer who once led the 1984 anti-Sikh riots SIT, has put the Manik Saha government under immediate pressure.
Key Takeaways
Tripura DGP Anurag , a 1994-batch IPS officer , was found dead in the bathroom of his chamber at the Tripura Police Headquarters , Agartala , on 20 July .
He was declared brought dead at the Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital ; the official cause of death is pending a post-mortem .
Chief Minister Manik Saha visited the Police Headquarters immediately after the incident and met senior police officials.
Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Choudhury demanded a judicial enquiry under the supervision of the Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court .
Anurag had taken charge as DGP on 17 May last year and previously chaired the SIT on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots .
He was a recipient of both the Police Medal for Meritorious Service and the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service .
Tripura Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag was found dead under mysterious circumstances in the bathroom adjoining his chamber at the Tripura Police Headquarters in Agartala on Monday, 20 July, officials confirmed. The senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer was rushed to the Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital, where he was declared brought dead.
What Doctors Said
Dr Pradip Bhowmik, Head of the Department of Medicine at the hospital, told reporters that Anurag arrived without any signs of life and was declared dead after examination of all 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 said.
The Tripura government and the state Police Headquarters are yet to officially announce the circumstances or cause of death. The post-mortem findings are awaited.
Government Response
Chief Minister Manik Saha, who also holds the Home portfolio, immediately visited the Police Headquarters and held discussions with senior police officials following the incident. Five senior ministers, led by Agriculture and Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath, visited the hospital and met Anurag's wife to offer condolences.
The ministers refrained from commenting on the cause of death but described the officer as upright, honest, and highly efficient.
Opposition Demands Judicial Inquiry
Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Choudhury, who is also the CPI(M) Tripura state Secretary and a former minister, demanded a judicial enquiry into the death under the supervision of the Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court. Former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and former minister and Tripura Left Front Convener Manik Dey also visited the hospital to meet the bereaved family.
Both Choudhury and Sarkar described Anurag as a sincere and honest officer who handled law and order in Tripura with efficiency after assuming charge as police chief.
A Distinguished Career
Anurag, a 1994-batch IPS officer of the Tripura cadre, took charge as the state's Director General of Police on 17 May last year, succeeding Amitabh Ranjan, a 1988-batch IPS officer. He previously 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.
His career spanned critical national and international assignments: he served with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo in 2003–04, and held senior positions in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) across two separate central deputation stints — from 2005 to 2013 and 2016 to 2023. He also served as Chairman of 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 had assumed charge as Additional Director General of Police on 18 September 2023 and was promoted to Director General of Police (Intelligence) with additional charge of Additional DGP (Law and Order) from January 2024.
What Happens Next
The post-mortem examination results will be critical in determining the cause of death. The Opposition's demand for a High Court-supervised judicial probe adds political pressure on the Manik Saha government to ensure a transparent investigation. With the official cause of death still unconfirmed, the circumstances surrounding the DGP's death are likely to remain under intense scrutiny in the days ahead.
Point of View
And the information vacuum itself is a governance failure. The Opposition's demand for High Court supervision is a reasonable safeguard given the sensitivity of the post, not mere political point-scoring. Anurag was not a peripheral figure: he chaired the SIT on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and held senior CBI positions across two deputation stints, making the circumstances of his death a matter of genuine public interest. The Manik Saha government's credibility will hinge on the speed and independence of the investigation it permits.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Tripura DGP Anurag die?
DGP Anurag was found dead in the bathroom attached to his chamber at the Tripura Police Headquarters in Agartala on 20 July under mysterious circumstances. He was declared brought dead at the Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital; the exact cause of death is yet to be confirmed and is pending the post-mortem report.
Who is demanding a judicial probe into DGP Anurag's death?
Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Choudhury, who is also the CPI(M) Tripura state Secretary, has demanded a judicial enquiry into the death under the supervision of the Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court. Former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has also raised concerns and visited the hospital to meet the bereaved family.
What was DGP Anurag's background and career?
Anurag was a 1994-batch IPS officer of the Tripura cadre who took charge as DGP on 17 May last year. He held senior roles in the CBI across two central deputation stints, served with the UN Mission in Kosovo, and chaired the SIT on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. He was decorated with both the Police Medal for Meritorious Service and the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service.
What has the Tripura government said about the DGP's death?
The Tripura government and the Police Headquarters had not officially announced the cause or circumstances of the death as of Monday. Chief Minister Manik Saha visited the Police Headquarters and met senior officials, while five senior ministers visited the hospital. All refrained from commenting on the cause of death, citing the pending post-mortem.
When will the cause of DGP Anurag's death be confirmed?
The official cause of death will be confirmed only after the post-mortem examination report is received, according to Dr Pradip Bhowmik, Head of Medicine at the Agartala Government Medical College. No timeline for the report has been officially stated.
