The Tripura Police has expanded its Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the mysterious death of Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag from three to ten members amid mounting demands from opposition parties for a judicial inquiry. While the government has strengthened the police investigation, the CPIM, Congress and other opposition parties continue to seek a High Court-monitored probe.
Key Takeaways
- Tripura Police expands DGP Anurag death investigation team from three to ten members.
- West Tripura SP Namit Pathak continues to lead the Special Investigation Team.
- CPIM, Congress and other opposition parties demand a High Court-monitored judicial inquiry.
- Opposition leaders met Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu seeking judicial supervision.
- The DGP was found dead inside his office chamber on July 20.
Agartala: Political pressure continues to mount for a judicial inquiry supervised by the Tripura High Court even as the Tripura Police has expanded the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the death of Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag.
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The investigation team, initially formed with three members, now comprises ten officers drawn from different police units. The move comes amid growing public interest and sustained demands from opposition parties for an independent probe into the death of the state’s senior-most police officer.
Probe Team Strengthened
Acting Director General of Police had constituted a three-member SIT on July 24. West Tripura Superintendent of Police Namit Pathak continues to head the investigation.
According to an official order, the police department has now expanded the team by adding officers from multiple specialised wings.
The reconstituted team includes Additional Superintendent of Police (Urban), West Tripura, Dhruba Nath. Officers-in-Charge of the Cyber Crime Police Station, Amtali Police Station, West Agartala Women Police Station, Battala Outpost and Ramnagar Outpost have also joined the investigation.
An Inspector from the KTD Singh Police Training Academy and the previous Investigating Officer, Subhojit Deb, are among the new members.
The expanded team is expected to examine all available evidence and coordinate different aspects of the investigation.
Political Pressure Continues
Despite the expansion of the SIT, opposition parties have maintained that a police-led investigation alone may not be enough to establish public confidence.
On Monday, two CPIM delegations separately met Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu and submitted memoranda demanding judicial supervision of the investigation by a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court.
Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury led one delegation, while former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar headed another.
The CPIM argued that judicial monitoring would ensure transparency, impartiality and credibility in the investigation.
The party, however, clarified that it was not opposing the ongoing police probe. Instead, it sought judicial oversight alongside the investigation.
Governor Receives Memoranda
After meeting the Governor, Chaudhury described the July 20 incident as unexpected and unnatural.
He questioned whether the existing police machinery could independently uncover every aspect of the case.
The CPIM urged the Governor to advise the state government to place the investigation under the supervision of a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court.
Former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar also reiterated the demand. He said the existence of a separate Tripura High Court now makes judicial supervision easier than in earlier years, when such matters required intervention from the Gauhati High Court.
According to Sarkar, the Governor listened to the delegations and assured them that he would examine their memoranda.
Opposition Seeks Independent Oversight
The demand for judicial inquiry is no longer limited to the Left parties.
Earlier, the Congress also sought a judicial investigation and urged the Tripura High Court to take suo motu cognisance of the DGP’s death.
The Congress alleged that investigators should examine every possible angle surrounding the incident.
Since July 20, the CPI(M), Congress, CPI and several other political parties have organised separate protest programmes demanding a High Court-monitored judicial probe.
The opposition believes such an inquiry would strengthen public confidence in the findings.
Investigation Continues
Anurag, a 1994-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Tripura cadre, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in the washroom attached to his official chamber at the state police headquarters in Agartala on July 20.
Police have not yet disclosed the final conclusions of the investigation.
The expanded SIT is expected to continue examining forensic evidence, witness statements and other material relevant to the case.
Officials have not announced any timeline for completing the investigation.
Distinguished Career
Anurag assumed charge as Director General of Police of Tripura on May 17, 2025.
Before becoming the state’s police chief, he served as Director General of Police (Intelligence).
During his career, he worked with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo and held several senior assignments in central agencies.
He served as Joint Director and Additional Director in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He also worked in the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
The senior IPS officer also headed the Special Investigation Team constituted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to investigate the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
His tenure as Tripura DGP was scheduled to continue until May 17, 2027.
As the police investigation gathers pace with an expanded team, political attention remains firmly focused on whether the state government will accept the opposition’s demand for judicial supervision. The Governor’s response to the memoranda is now expected to shape the next phase of the debate surrounding one of Tripura’s most unprecedented policing incidents.
People Also Ask (PAA)
1. Why did Tripura Police expand the DGP death investigation team?
The police expanded the Special Investigation Team from three to ten members to strengthen the investigation into the death of DGP Anurag and bring in officers from multiple specialised units.
2. Who is leading the Tripura DGP death investigation?
West Tripura Superintendent of Police Namit Pathak is heading the reconstituted Special Investigation Team.
3. Why are opposition parties demanding a judicial inquiry into the DGP’s death?
The CPIM, Congress and other opposition parties believe judicial supervision by a sitting Tripura High Court judge would ensure transparency, impartiality and public confidence in the investigation.
4. When did Tripura DGP Anurag die?
Anurag was found dead under mysterious circumstances in the washroom attached to his official chamber at the Tripura Police Headquarters on July 20, 2026.
5. Who was Anurag before becoming Tripura DGP?
Before taking charge as Tripura DGP in May 2025, Anurag served as Director General of Police (Intelligence) and held senior positions in the CBI, BPR&D, CISF and the UN Mission in Kosovo.
