Tripura Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag died on Monday after officials found him unconscious inside the bathroom attached to his office chamber at the Police Headquarters in Agartala. Doctors at GB Pant Hospital failed to revive him despite prolonged CPR. The incident has triggered political reactions, with the Opposition demanding a judicial inquiry while authorities await the post-mortem report.
Key Takeaways
- Tripura DGP Anurag died after being found unconscious at Police Headquarters in Agartala.
- Doctors declared him dead at 12:48 pm after nearly 48 minutes of resuscitation.
- The Opposition has demanded a judicial inquiry under a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court.
Agartala: Tripura Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag died on Monday after officials found him unconscious inside the bathroom attached to his office chamber at the Police Headquarters in Agartala. His sudden death has shocked the police fraternity and sparked political demands for an independent judicial investigation.
Officials immediately shifted the senior IPS officer to GB Pant Hospital. Doctors launched emergency treatment as soon as he arrived. They continued cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for nearly 48 minutes. However, the medical team could not revive him. Doctors officially declared him dead at 12:48 pm.
The exact cause of death remains unknown. Doctors said only the post-mortem examination can establish the reason behind his death.
Doctors Describe His Condition on Arrival
Senior physician Dr. Pradip Bhowmik of GB Pant Hospital confirmed that Anurag reached the emergency department in an unresponsive condition.
According to Dr. Bhowmik, the DGP had no pulse and no measurable blood pressure when doctors examined him. The medical team immediately started CPR and other advanced life-saving procedures. The doctors continued their efforts for almost 48 minutes.
Despite continuous treatment, Anurag did not respond.
Dr. Bhowmik said the case resembled a brought-dead condition. He added that the hospital has sent the body for post-mortem examination. The report will determine the exact cause of death.
No Official Statement on the Circumstances
The Tripura government and the Police Headquarters have not yet issued any official statement explaining the circumstances surrounding the DGP’s death.
Some reports have claimed that the incident could be a case of suicide. However, authorities have not confirmed those claims. Officials have urged people to wait for the post-mortem findings and the outcome of the official investigation.
The body remains at the GB Pant Hospital mortuary. Family members, including Anurag’s son, are expected to reach Agartala shortly.
Top Officials Reach Hospital
The incident prompted several senior government officials to rush to GB Pant Hospital.
Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, Health Secretary Kiran Gitte, and West Tripura District Magistrate Dr. Vishal Kumar visited the hospital soon after the news emerged.
Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha also reached the hospital to review the situation.
Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Choudhury and former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar later visited the hospital.
Opposition Seeks Judicial Probe
The Opposition has demanded an independent judicial inquiry into the death.
Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Choudhury described Anurag as one of the most sincere and upright officers in the Tripura Police.
He called the incident extraordinary and said the circumstances require a transparent investigation.
Choudhury said that if investigators eventually conclude it was a case of suicide, they must also establish what led to such an extreme step. He demanded that a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court supervise the inquiry to ensure public confidence.
As of now, officials have not announced any inquiry.
Distinguished Career in the IPS
Anurag belonged to the 1994 batch of the Indian Police Service (IPS) and served in the Tripura cadre.
He became Tripura’s Director General of Police on May 17 last year, succeeding Amitabh Ranjan. Before taking charge as the state’s police chief, he served as Director General of Police (Intelligence).
His academic background reflected a strong focus on technology and policing.
He earned a postgraduate degree in Food Technology from the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore. He later completed a Master’s degree in Police Management from Osmania University. He also obtained a postgraduate diploma in Cyber Crimes from NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad.
Anurag also qualified as a Certified Fraud Examiner through the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), USA.
Served in Tripura, CBI and United Nations
Anurag built a long and diverse policing career.
Between 1995 and 2003, he served in several important positions in Tripura. His assignments included Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Longtharai Valley, Superintendent of Police of the undivided West and South Tripura districts, Superintendent of Police (Special Branch) and Assistant Inspector General of Police (Headquarters).
He joined the United Nations Mission in Kosovo during 2003-04, where he gained international policing experience.
From 2005 to 2013, he served on central deputation in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as Superintendent of Police and later as Deputy Inspector General.
After returning to Tripura, he worked as Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) from 2013 to 2016.
He again moved to central deputation between 2016 and 2023. During this period, he held senior positions in the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the CBI, where he served as Joint Director and later Additional Director.
He also chaired the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to investigate the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Investigation Awaits Post-Mortem Findings
The sudden death of Tripura’s top police officer has raised several unanswered questions. Authorities have not disclosed the circumstances that led to the incident.
The post-mortem examination is expected to provide crucial information about the cause of death. Officials are likely to decide the next course of action after receiving the medical findings.
The incident has drawn widespread attention across Tripura and the country. More official details are expected in the coming days as the investigation progresses.
