The death of Tripura’s Director General of Police (DGP), Anurag Dhankar, has become a mystery. To unravel it, the state government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which has now arrived in Delhi. Meanwhile, lawyers met the Governor of Tripura and demanded a judicial inquiry into the case. In a memorandum submitted regarding this matter, the Tripura state committee of the All India Lawyers Union (AILU) urged the Governor to constitute an independent judicial inquiry commission, headed by a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court, to investigate the untimely and unusual death of DGP Anurag Dhankar.
SIT Investigation:
The SIT formed by the Tripura government to investigate DGP Anurag Dhankar’s death is being led by Namit Pathak, the Superintendent of Police (SP) West Tripura. The team has reached New Delhi. It is expected that the team will gather evidence, examine digital records, and record statements as part of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the senior IPS officer’s death.
The SIT includes Rana Chatterjee (Inspector-in-Charge, Amtali Police Station), Shiuli Das (Inspector-in-Charge, West Agartala Women’s Police Station), and Subhendu Das (Sub-Inspector-in-Charge, Ramnagar Town Police Outpost). To pursue leads relevant to the investigation, the team also intends to question DGP Anurag Dhankar’s wife, who is currently in Baraut, Uttar Pradesh.
Demand for a Judicial Inquiry:
Meanwhile, the lawyers’ organization AILU has stated in its memorandum that the sudden and unusual death of the state’s top police officer has caused significant public concern and raised numerous unanswered questions, making the matter one of great public interest. The organization argues that, given the gravity of the incident, relying solely on standard investigative procedures would be insufficient; a transparent, impartial, and credible judicial inquiry is essential to uncover the truth.
The organization believes that an inquiry led by a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court would be the most appropriate and widely accepted approach to ascertain the facts, dispel public doubts, and strengthen confidence in the justice system. The memorandum appeals to the Governor to consider the seriousness of the matter and to take—or recommend—the necessary constitutional steps to constitute a judicial commission of inquiry. It also demands immediate action to secure all relevant documents, electronic records, forensic samples, and other physical evidence to ensure a fair and comprehensive investigation.
