Agartala, 25th July 2026: Former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has strongly demanded that the inquiry into the sudden death of Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Dhankar be placed under the supervision of a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court, stressing that only a judicially monitored investigation can dispel public doubts.
Sarkar, speaking outside the hospital where the incident was first reported, described Dhankar’s death as “inconceivable.” He recalled his long association with the officer, noting that Dhankar had served in multiple roles—from SDPO to IG (Law and Order)—before eventually becoming DGP. “I knew him well; I had the opportunity to work with him during my twenty-year tenure with the state government,” Sarkar said.
Pointing to the deteriorating law and order situation in the state over the past eight to ten months, Sarkar observed that the police force has been under intense public pressure. As DGP, Dhankar had tried to manage this unrest, which, Sarkar suggested, may have led to differences with the government’s top leadership. “His unnatural death cannot be viewed in isolation. An impartial inquiry is essential to uncover the truth and hold those responsible accountable,” he emphasized.
The former Chief Minister expressed reservations about the inquiry committee formed by the government, which is headed by the West District SP. While acknowledging the government’s authority to constitute such a panel, Sarkar questioned its adequacy in investigating the death of a senior officer of Dhankar’s stature. “The government appears reluctant to accept the demand for judicial supervision. This avoidance only deepens suspicion,” he remarked.
