Kailashahar MLA Birajit Sinha has demanded a judicial inquiry headed by a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court into the death of Tripura Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Dhankar. He said the government should ensure complete transparency to address growing public concern over the incident.
Key Takeaways
- Birajit Sinha sought a High Court judge-led inquiry into the DGP’s death.
- He said unanswered questions have created public concern.
- The MLA urged Chief Minister Manik Saha to clarify the government’s stand.
- The demand follows a similar call made earlier by the Leader of the Opposition.
- The exact cause of Anurag Dhankar’s death remains unknown pending post-mortem findings.
Agartala: The demand for a judicial inquiry into the death of Tripura Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Dhankar gathered further momentum on Thursday after Kailashahar MLA Birajit Sinha (Also often written as Birjit Sinha) called for an investigation under the supervision of a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court.
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Addressing reporters, Sinha said the unusual death of the state’s top police officer has left several questions unanswered. He stressed that a transparent investigation is essential to maintain public confidence.
According to the MLA, the government should place all relevant facts before the people instead of allowing speculation to grow.
MLA says public deserves clear answers
Birajit Sinha said Anurag Dhankar served the state with distinction and earned a reputation as a sincere police officer. Therefore, he added, the circumstances surrounding his death cannot remain unclear.
“If this was a case of suicide, people should know how and under what circumstances it happened,” Sinha told reporters.
He said the issue extends beyond political debate because citizens across the state and the country want to know the truth.
The MLA urged Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha to make the government’s position clear and ensure that the investigation remains completely impartial.
He argued that only a judicial inquiry monitored by a sitting High Court judge can remove doubts and establish public trust in the findings.
Demand follows earlier opposition stand
Sinha’s statement comes days after the Leader of the Opposition also sought a judicial inquiry into the incident.
Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Choudhury described Dhankar as one of the most sincere and upright officers in the Tripura Police.
He said the circumstances surrounding the death were extraordinary and required an independent investigation under the supervision of a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court.
Choudhury had also argued that if investigators eventually conclude that the death was a suicide, they must establish what circumstances led to such an extreme step.
With Birajit Sinha now echoing a similar demand, pressure has increased for an independent probe into the incident.
DGP Anurag Dhankar died after being found unconscious
Tripura DGP Anurag Dhankar died on Monday after officials found him unconscious inside the bathroom attached to his office chamber at the Police Headquarters in Agartala.
Officials immediately shifted him to GB Pant Hospital, where doctors began emergency treatment.
According to senior physician Dr. Pradip Bhowmik, Dhankar arrived at the emergency department without pulse or measurable blood pressure. Doctors immediately initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and continued life-saving efforts for nearly 48 minutes.
Despite prolonged resuscitation, the medical team could not revive him.
Doctors officially declared him dead at 12:48 pm.
Hospital authorities later sent the body for post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.
Cause of death yet to be established
Authorities have not officially explained the circumstances surrounding Dhankar’s death.
While speculation has circulated in sections of the public, the government has not confirmed any particular cause.
Medical experts have maintained that only the post-mortem report can establish the exact cause of death.
Officials have urged people to wait for the medical findings and the outcome of the official investigation before drawing conclusions.
Senior leaders visited GB Pant Hospital
The incident prompted several senior government functionaries to rush to GB Pant Hospital soon after the news emerged.
Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha visited the hospital to review the situation.
Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, Health Secretary Kiran Gitte and West Tripura District Magistrate Dr. Vishal Kumar also reached the hospital.
Later, Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Choudhury and former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar paid their respects.
Family members, including Dhankar’s son, were expected to arrive in Agartala following the incident.
Distinguished policing career
Anurag Dhankar belonged to the 1994 batch of the Indian Police Service (IPS) and served in the Tripura cadre.
He took charge as Tripura’s Director General of Police on May 17 last year, succeeding Amitabh Ranjan. Before becoming the state’s police chief, he served as DGP (Intelligence).
During his career, he held several important assignments in Tripura, including Superintendent of Police in multiple districts, Superintendent of Police (Special Branch) and Assistant Inspector General of Police (Headquarters).
He also served with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo and later held senior positions in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) and other central organisations.
Dhankar also chaired the Special Investigation Team constituted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to investigate the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Academically, he held postgraduate qualifications in Food Technology and Police Management, besides a postgraduate diploma in Cyber Crimes. He was also a Certified Fraud Examiner accredited by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), USA.
| Read Details at Tripura DGP Anurag Dies at Police Headquarters |
Focus now on investigation
The sudden death of Tripura’s police chief has shocked the police fraternity and drawn attention across the state.
With Birajit Sinha becoming the latest public representative to seek a High Court judge-led inquiry, demands for greater transparency continue to grow.
Enewstime reported earlier that the post-mortem report is expected to play a crucial role in establishing the exact cause of death, while many continue to await the government’s next decision on the nature of the investigation.
