By News On Air Jul 20, 2026
Agartala, July 20 (FD) Tripura Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Dhankar, a 1994-batch IPS officer, was found dead inside his office chamber at the Police Headquarters (PHQ) here on Monday in a suspected case of suicide, sending shockwaves across the state and triggering demands for a transparent and impartial investigation.
According to preliminary information, Dhankar was found hanging inside his office and was immediately rushed to Govind Ballabh Pant (GBP) Hospital, where he was declared dead at 12:48 pm, senior physician Dr. Pradip Bhowmik said. He added that the exact cause of death would be ascertained after the post-mortem examination.
Senior police officials cordoned off the PHQ and launched an investigation. Authorities are examining forensic evidence and other material collected from the scene. So far, investigators have not officially confirmed either the cause of death or reports of the existence of a suicide note.
The sudden death of the state's top police officer drew reactions from across the political spectrum, with leaders expressing grief and seeking a credible, transparent and time-bound probe.
Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman called for a fair, impartial and judicially monitored investigation, saying the circumstances surrounding the DGP's death raised serious questions. Paying tribute to Dhankar, he described him as "one of the most honest police officers Tripura has ever witnessed."
Roy Barman further claimed that a senior police officer had informed him that Dhankar had been under mental stress before his death. He said investigators should verify the claim and examine whether it had any bearing on the case. He also noted that the DGP died in uniform inside his office chamber, making a comprehensive inquiry imperative.
Responding to the political debate, BJP Tripura president Abhishek Debroy said every aspect of the case, including reports of a purported suicide note, would be thoroughly investigated.
"The investigation will cover everything, including reports of a suicide note. In Tripura, all crimes and irregularities are investigated. The circumstances surrounding the death of DGP Anurag Dhankar will also be investigated," Debroy told reporters.
He rejected suggestions that the probe was prompted by opposition pressure, saying an investigation into the unnatural death would have been conducted irrespective of political demands.
"Even if the opposition had not sought it, an investigation into this unnatural death would have been conducted," he said.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) leaders, including former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury, alleged that they were prevented from entering the room at GBP Hospital where Dhankar's body had been kept, leading to a brief exchange with officials.
The CPI(M) later organised a protest march from its state headquarters at Melarmath to West Agartala Police Station, demanding a high-level inquiry into the DGP's death.
Addressing party workers, Chaudhury said the news of Dhankar's death had come as "a bolt from the blue." He recalled speaking to the DGP over the phone and sending him a WhatsApp message earlier in the day before the officer reached his office.
The death of one of Tripura's senior-most police officers has generated widespread concern across political and administrative circles. With the investigation underway, political parties across the spectrum have called for a thorough, transparent and time-bound probe to establish the circumstances surrounding Dhankar's death. FD JK