New Delhi: Tripura Director General of Police Anurag Dhankar was found dead Monday after he allegedly hung himself in the bathroom of his office at police headquarters in Agartala. A 1994 batch IPS officer, he was part of the SIT that probed the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, as well as the CBI team that investigated fugitive businessman Nirav Modi.
The DGP was rushed to GB Pant hospital, where doctors declared him dead. An autopsy report is awaited.
Dr Pradip Bhowmik told reporters, “When DGP Anurag Dhankar was brought to the hospital, we could not find any signs of life; there was no pulse, blood pressure, or respiration.”
“We immediately shifted him to the red zone of the emergency department and performed all forms of CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation. However, everything failed, and ultimately, at 12.48 pm, we had to declare him dead,” he added.
“Whether it was suicide will be confirmed after post mortem,” he said. Government authorities are yet to issue the exact cause of death of the DGP.
Following the incident, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha and other government officials rushed to the hospital.
Anurag Dhankhar was a Post Graduate in Food Technology from CFTRI, Mysore. He also had a Masters Degree in Police Management from Osmania University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Cyber Crimes from NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad.
He had vast experience of serving in Tripura during 1995 to 2003. He served as SDPO, Longtharai Valley, and District SP of undivided West and South Tripura Districts, apart from serving as Superintendent of Police, Special Branch and AIGP (HQr).
During 2003-04, he also served in the UN Mission in Kosovo. During 2005 to 2013, he was on central deputation and served as SP and DIG in CBI.
On return from central deputation, he served as IGP (Law & Order) Tripura from 2013 to 2016. During 2016 to 2023, he again went on central deputation and served as IG, Research & Correctional Administration, BPR&D and IG (Personnel) in CISF, besides Joint Director and Additional Director in CBI. He has also served as Chairman of SIT (1984 Anti-Sikh Riots) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
He was conferred the Police Medal for Meritorious Service and President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service.
On 18 September 2023, he assumed charge as Additional DGP, Tripura, and was subsequently posted as Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order), Tripura, from 30 September 2023.
He was appointed and posted as DGP (intelligence) with additional charge of Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order ) on 1 January 2024.
It was on 17 May 2025, that assumed the charge of DGP, Tripura.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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