Tripura Bids Emotional Farewell to DGP Anurag Dhankar, Mortal Remains Sent to Delhi, Last Rites to Be Held in Uttar Pradesh
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, July 21, 2026
Tripura paid its final respects on Tuesday to Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Dhankar, whose sudden death has left the police fraternity, government, and citizens in deep shock.
The mortal remains of the 1994-batch IPS officer were first taken to the Tripura Police Headquarters in Agartala from his official residence, where senior police officers, personnel, and colleagues offered their last respects with full ceremonial honours. A solemn Guard of Honour was accorded to the state's highest-ranking police officer before the body was taken to the State Secretariat (Mahakaran).
At the Secretariat, Governor Indra Sena Reddy Nallu, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, members of the Council of Ministers, senior bureaucrats, and top police officials paid their final tributes to the late DGP. Following the state honours, the mortal remains were flown to New Delhi, from where they will be taken to his native home in Uttar Pradesh. His last rites are scheduled to be performed there on Wednesday.
Dhankar's elder brother, Vivek Dhankar, arrived in Agartala from Delhi on Monday night to receive the body. The DGP's son, who resides in Canada, is expected to reach Delhi on Tuesday evening. A team of senior Tripura Police officers has accompanied Dhankar's wife to assist the family and oversee the transportation of the mortal remains.
The death of Anurag Dhankar has triggered an outpouring of grief across the state. A highly respected officer, he was serving as the Director General of the President's Colour-awarded Tripura Police, an honour bestowed upon the force for its distinguished service.
Dhankar, who had spent most of his career in the Tripura cadre, was widely regarded as a professional, soft-spoken, and committed officer. Rising through the ranks from SDPO to DGP, he earned a reputation for integrity, patience, dedication, and administrative competence. Journalists and colleagues alike remember him as an approachable and courteous officer.
His distinguished career extended well beyond Tripura. He served with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), led a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, headed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that investigated the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi, and also supervised the investigation into the multi-crore Punjab National Bank fraud involving fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi.
Dhankar assumed charge as the Director General of Police in May 2025. Although he was due to retire in June 2026, the Tripura Government granted him an 11-month extension as per the Supreme Court guidelines, reflecting the confidence reposed in him by the state leadership.
His death inside the washroom of his office chamber while reportedly in uniform has raised several unanswered questions and sparked widespread public debate. While some have speculated about the circumstances surrounding the incident, no official conclusions have been drawn. Authorities have not publicly disclosed any suicide note or motive, and the exact circumstances remain under investigation.
Given Dhankar's long and distinguished service, many observers believe that only a thorough and impartial investigation, supported by forensic evidence and the post-mortem findings, can establish the facts behind this tragic incident. Until then, the reasons behind the death of one of Tripura's most experienced police officers remain unknown.
As Tripura mourns the loss of a senior officer who dedicated more than three decades to policing and public service, tributes continue to pour in from across the country, with colleagues remembering him not only for his professional accomplishments but also for his humility, discipline, and unwavering commitment to duty.
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