Agartala, July 21: Tripura Leader of Opposition and CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury on Tuesday demanded an independent judicial inquiry into the death of Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag, calling for the investigation to be headed by a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court. He also rejected the BJP’s allegation that the opposition was attempting to politicise the tragedy.

Addressing the media, Chaudhury was responding to BJP state president Abhishek Debroy’s charge that the CPI(M) was seeking political mileage from the DGP’s death. The CPI(M) leader asserted that his party raises only issues with political and public significance and denied allegations of politicising every incident.

Referring to the mysterious death of the state’s police chief, Chaudhury said the incident had raised serious questions among the people and that the BJP-led government must provide answers.

“An officer like the DGP is not an ordinary person. What lies behind his death is a question every citizen is asking. The BJP is in power, the government is headed by the BJP, and therefore it must answer these questions,” he said.

Highlighting Anurag’s distinguished career, Chaudhury noted that the senior IPS officer had risen through the ranks from Sub-Divisional Police Officer to Director General of Police and had served in several key assignments at both national and international levels.

“An officer with such vast experience develops the mental strength to deal with difficult situations. What circumstances led him to take such a drastic step remains an unanswered question,” he remarked.

The CPI(M) leader further alleged that many government officials in Tripura were working under pressure and claimed that honest and sincere officers were often subjected to victimisation. He argued that government employees have limited scope to voice their concerns because of service rules and administrative constraints.

Demanding an impartial investigation, Chaudhury said the Tripura Police should not investigate the case, as questions could be raised over the probe’s credibility. He also expressed reservations about a CBI investigation and instead proposed that the inquiry be conducted under the supervision of a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court, preferably the Chief Justice.

He urged the state Cabinet to formally request the High Court to constitute such an inquiry, saying it would ensure transparency, inspire public confidence and help uncover the truth behind the DGP’s death.

The BJP had earlier accused the CPI(M) of attempting to derive political mileage from the tragic incident, an allegation the opposition has firmly denied.