In a shocking incident, Director General of Tripura Police Anurag Dhankar was found dead inside the washroom of his office chamber in the state police headquarters, Agartala on Monday morning.

While prima-facie it appeared as a case of suicide, further investigation is underway to unearth the reason. The incident has become very sensitive among political circles with the opposition demanded judicial probe.

The senior IPS officer was rushed to the Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital, where the attending doctors declared him ‘brought dead’ at 12:48 pm.

Head of the Department of Medicine at the AGMC and GBP Hospital, Dr Pradip Bhowmik, said that Anurag was brought to the hospital without any signs of life. He was given CPR before being declared dead.

“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 the media.

Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, who also holds the Home portfolio, immediately visited the Police Headquarters after the incident and held discussions with senior police officials.

Five senior ministers, led by Agriculture and Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath, visited the hospital and met Anurag's wife.

Former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Jitendra Choudhury, and former minister and Tripura Left Front Convener Manik Dey, Congress leaders including state president Ashish Kumar Saha also visited the hospital to offer their condolences and meet the bereaved family.

While the ministers refrained from commenting on the cause of Anurag's death, they expressed profound grief and described him as an upright, honest and highly efficient police officer.

Chief Minister’s statement on social media:

“I am deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic demise of Anurag, IPS, Director General of Police, Tripura, who was found hanging in the washroom of his official chamber today.

Upon receiving the information, I, along with the Chief Secretary and Home Secretary, immediately visited the Police Headquarters. He was promptly shifted to AGMC & GBP Hospital, where the attending doctors, after examination, declared him ‘brought dead’.

I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved family during this hour of profound grief. May the departed soul rest in peace, and may the family find strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss.”

Tripura Cabinet mourns DGP’s death:

The Tripura State Council of Ministers today expressed profound grief over the untimely demise of Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Dhankar (IPS) and observed a two-minute silence in his memory during the Cabinet meeting.

Paying deep tributes, the Cabinet praised Dhankar's distinguished career in public service.

Describing his death as an irreparable loss, the Cabinet said Tripura has lost a dedicated, honest and visionary police officer whose leadership and commitment to public service will be remembered for years. It extended heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family and prayed for the eternal peace of his soul.

State mourning declared on July 21:

As a mark of respect, the State Government has declared a one-day state mourning on July 21. The National Flag will be flown at half-mast on all government buildings where it is regularly hoisted, and no official entertainment programmes will be held on the day.

G.S. Rao given charge:

The Tripura government on Monday appointed senior IPS officer G S Rao as the in-charge Director General of Police (Head of Police Force) following the untimely demise of DGP Anurag earlier in the day.

An official notification issued by the General Administration (Personnel and Training) Department stated that Rao, a 1999-batch IPS officer of the Tripura cadre, has been entrusted with the additional responsibility of Director General of Police (Head of Police Force), Tripura, with immediate effect until further orders. He is presently serving as the Additional Director General of Police (Armed Police).

The appointment follows the death of Anurag, a 1994-batch IPS officer of the Tripura cadre, who was serving as the state's Director General of Police (Head of Police Force).

The notification noted that Rao, being the senior-most IPS officer currently serving in the state, has been assigned to lead the Tripura Police in an interim capacity pending further orders from the government.

Anurag’s profile in public service:

Anurag, a 1994-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Tripura cadre, took charge as the state's Director General of Police on May 17 last year, succeeding Amitabh Ranjan, a 1988-batch IPS officer.

Before assuming charge as the DGP, Anurag served as the Director General of Police (Intelligence), Tripura. A postgraduate in Food Technology from the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore, Anurag also held a Master's degree 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, and possessed extensive policing experience in Tripura, having served in the state from 1995 to 2003, officials said.

During his tenure in Tripura, 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 the positions of Superintendent of Police, Special Branch, and Assistant Inspector General of Police (Headquarters).

During 2003-04, Anurag served with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo. Between 2005 and 2013, he was on central deputation, serving as Joint Director and Additional Director in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). After returning from central deputation, he served as Inspector General of Police (Law and Order), Tripura, from 2013 to 2016.

From 2016 to 2023, the IPS officer was again on central deputation, serving as Inspector General (Research and Correctional Administration) in the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), Inspector General (Personnel) in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and later as Joint Director and Additional Director in the CBI.

Anurag 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.

He has been conferred with the police medal for meritorious service and President's police medal for distinguished service.

On September 18, 2023, Anurag Dhankar, assumed the charge of Tripura Additional Director General of Police and subsequently posted as Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order).

He was promoted and posted as the Director General of Police (Intelligence) with additional charge of Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) with effect from January 2024.