By Firstdespatch Desk Jul 28, 2026
Agartala, July 28 (FD) The Tripura Police have expanded the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the mysterious death of Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Dhankar, IPS, from three to ten members
in a move aimed at strengthening the investigation amid mounting public and political scrutiny.
According to police sources, the decision was taken on the directions of In-Charge DGP G.S. Rao. West Tripura Superintendent of Police Namit Pathak, IPS, will continue to head the probe. The enlarged SIT now comprises senior officers from the crime branch, district police, sub-divisional police administration and police stations in and around Agartala, reflecting an effort to ensure a broader and more coordinated investigation.
The expanded SIT consists of SP Namit Pathak (Team Leader), Additional SP (Rural) Dhruva Nath, Additional SP (Crime) Sourav Deb, SDPO Kalyan Debbarma, Amtali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Rana Chatterjee, Women Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shiuli Das, Battala Outpost Officer-in-Charge Shubhajit Deb, Ramnagar Outpost Officer-in-Charge Shubendu Das, Sub-Inspector Chinmoy Bhowmik and Police Training Academy Inspector Tapan Saha.
Police sources said the members have been instructed to conduct the inquiry with complete impartiality, maintain strict confidentiality and work in close coordination. The team has also been directed to submit daily progress reports to the Superintendent of Police, who will brief the In-Charge DGP on the progress of the investigation every Saturday.
Dhankar, a 1994-batch IPS officer, was found dead on July 20 inside a toilet attached to his office chamber at the Police Headquarters in Agartala. While the death is being investigated, the police are yet to
issue an official statement on the cause of death.
The absence of a formal explanation a week after the incident has fuelled speculation and intensified public interest in the case.
Meanwhile, the Opposition CPI(M) and the Congress have demanded a judicial inquiry under the supervision of the Tripura High Court, contending that several questions surrounding the circumstances of the
DGP's death remain unanswered. Leaders of both parties have held protests and submitted memoranda to the Governor, calling for an independent and transparent investigation. FD JK