Tripura DGP Anurag Dhankar found dead in office; police suspect suicide, probe underway

Tripura Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Dhankar was found dead at the state police headquarters in Agartala on Monday, with police suspecting the case to be one of suicide.

The exact circumstances surrounding his death are yet to be established, and an investigation has been launched.

Dhankar, a 1994-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, was taken to the Govind Ballabh Pant (GB) Hospital after he was found at the police headquarters. Doctors, however, were unable to revive him and declared him dead after prolonged resuscitation efforts.

His sudden death has sent shockwaves through the police force and government circles, with colleagues remembering him as a seasoned officer who held several important positions during a career spanning more than three decades.

Investigation underway into the incident

According to preliminary information available, police suspect that Dhankar died by suicide. Officials have not disclosed further details and said the exact cause of death will be confirmed after the post-mortem examination and completion of the investigation.

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Dr Pradip Bhowmik of GB Hospital said Dhankar was brought to the hospital around noon with no pulse, blood pressure or other signs of life. Medical staff carried out CPR for more than 40 minutes before he was declared dead at 12:48 pm, NDTV reported.

Authorities have begun an official inquiry to determine the circumstances leading to the incident.

A distinguished policing career

Dhankar took charge as the Director General of Police of Tripura in May 2025, succeeding Amitabh Ranjan. Before becoming the state's police chief, he served as Director General (Intelligence) in Tripura.

Over the course of his career, Dhankar held several key assignments in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), where he was associated with a number of high-profile investigations. He also served with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, adding international policing experience to his record.

Among his notable assignments was heading the investigation into the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, a role that brought him national attention. Widely regarded as a professional officer with extensive investigative experience, he was considered one of the senior-most IPS officers serving in Tripura.

Dhankar's death has left the state's police fraternity and administrative establishment in mourning. Tributes from colleagues and officials are expected as the investigation into the circumstances of his death continues.