By Firstdespatch Desk Jul 21, 2026
Agartala, July 21 (FD) Tripura on Tuesday bid a solemn farewell to Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Dhankar with full state honours, as the police fraternity, government and citizens mourned the sudden demise of the 1994-batch IPS officer.
Dhankar's mortal remains were taken from his official residence to the Tripura Police Headquarters, where senior officers and personnel paid their last respects and a ceremonial Guard of Honour was accorded. The body was later taken to the State Secretariat (Mahakaran), where Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, Cabinet ministers, senior bureaucrats and top police officials offered floral tributes.
Following the state honours, the body was flown to New Delhi before being taken to his native place in Uttar Pradesh, where his last rites will be performed on Wednesday. A team of senior Tripura Police officers accompanied Dhankar's wife to assist the family.
Known for his professionalism and integrity, Dhankar spent most of his career in the Tripura cadre, rising from SDPO to DGP. He also served with the CBI and CISF, led a UN peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, headed the SIT probing the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, and supervised the investigation into the Punjab National Bank fraud involving fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi. He took charge as Tripura DGP in May 2025 and was later granted an 11-month extension beyond his scheduled retirement.
Meanwhile, DGP-in-Charge G.S. Rao said Tripura Police have launched an investigation into Dhankar's death and are awaiting the post-mortem report. Speaking to reporters after paying his last respects at the Police Headquarters, Rao said no Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been constituted yet, but the matter would be reviewed and an appropriate panel formed, if required, to ensure a thorough probe.
Dhankar's death inside the washroom of his office chamber has raised several unanswered questions. Authorities have not disclosed any suicide note or official cause, and the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation. FD JK