Tripura Assembly witnesses fresh uproar over DGP Anurag’s death

Agartala, Aug 28 (IANS) Tripura Legislative Assembly on Friday witnessed fresh heated exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches over the death of state Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag, whose body was found under mysterious circumstances in the washroom attached to his official chamber at the state police headquarters here on July 20.

Like Thursday, members of the treasury and opposition benches engaged in arguments and counter-arguments, triggering uproarious scenes in the House during the reference period. During the commotion, opposition CPI(M) MLAs, led by Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Jitendra Chaudhury, trooped into the Well of the House and raised slogans against the government.

Following repeated requests from Speaker Ram Pada Jamatia and after Chief Minister Manik Saha agreed to make a statement on the issue, the Left legislators returned to their seats.

Responding to the opposition’s accusations regarding the disclosure of the post-mortem examination report, the Chief Minister told the House that under Article 194 of the Constitution, he could refer to the autopsy report in the interest of the people and in the interest of transparency.

“The body of DGP Anurag was found hanging in the washroom attached to his official chamber at the state police headquarters here on July 20. The nature of the death appeared to be suicide,” said Saha, who also holds the Home portfolio.

The Assembly, however, continued to witness heated exchanges, with opposition Congress and CPI (M) members accusing the state government of not allowing a discussion on the issue. The Speaker told the House that the Chief Minister had made the statement under Rule 361 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Tripura Legislative Assembly.

“When a statement is made under Rule 361, no immediate debate or discussion is permitted on the floor of the House at the time the statement is made,” Speaker Jamatia clarified.

LoP Chaudhury and former minister and senior Congress leader Sudip Roy Barman separately said that the death of an in-service state police chief at his official chamber in the police headquarters was unprecedented in India, and alleged that the ruling party was preventing the opposition from discussing the matter in the House.

Both the CPI (M) and Congress members reiterated their demand for a judicial inquiry, headed by a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court, to probe the case.

The Chief Minister had earlier said that the state government was making all-out efforts to uncover the truth behind the death of the state DGP.

Making a statement on the first day of the Monsoon Session of the Tripura Assembly on Thursday, Saha had said that the state police had launched an extensive investigation into the death of the senior IPS officer. He said the probe was being closely monitored by Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Manchak Ipper and that the investigating team had already visited Delhi in connection with the case.

“The team would examine the post-mortem and forensic reports, digital evidence, mobile call records, various electronic devices, CCTV footage, documents and other relevant materials to ascertain the circumstances and reasons behind the DGP’s death,” Saha told the House.

“If anyone is found to have committed any illegal act in connection with the DGP’s death, strict action would be taken as per law,” the Chief Minister said, urging all concerned not to indulge in speculation before the investigation is completed.

Anurag had taken charge as Tripura’s DGP on May 17, 2025. Before assuming office as the state’s police chief, he had served as the Director General of Police (Intelligence) in Tripura.

Following the July 20 incident, Acting DGP G.S. Rao on July 24 constituted a three-member team, led by West Tripura district Superintendent of Police (SP) Namit Pathak, to investigate the “mysterious” death of the senior police officer.

SP Pathak later reconstituted the investigating team with 10 members under his leadership.

Since July 20, the opposition Congress, CPI (M), CPI and several other political parties have been demanding a judicial inquiry monitored by a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court to determine the circumstances and reasons behind the death of the state’s senior-most IPS officer.

The Left parties and the Congress had earlier organised separate protest rallies in Tripura, demanding a High Court-monitored judicial investigation into the incident.

Anurag’s tenure as Tripura Director General of Police was scheduled to continue until May 17, 2027.

–IANS

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