The death of Tripura DGP Anurag Dhankar triggered a political uproar in the State Assembly on Friday, with the Opposition CPI(M) entering the well of the House and demanding an independent investigation either by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) or a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court.

The protest erupted after Speaker Rampada Jamatia disallowed the Opposition from raising the issue during the proceedings, citing Assembly rules governing discussion on the suo motu statement made by Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha on the DGP’s death.

As the Speaker began reading a congratulatory motion, Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury sought to raise the matter and referred to the Chief Minister’s statement made in the Assembly on Thursday.

Chaudhury said the government should take steps to establish the facts surrounding the DGP’s death and ensure that the investigation was conducted independently.

“If the government really wants to find out the truth, it should constitute an SIT or have the matter investigated by a sitting judge of the High Court,” Chaudhury said.

The Speaker, however, cited Rule 361 and said the matter could not be taken up for discussion in the manner sought by the Opposition. He maintained that the proceedings of the House had to be conducted in accordance with the prescribed rules.

Following the Speaker’s ruling, CPI(M) legislators left their seats and entered the well of the House, staging a protest and raising slogans over the issue.

Later, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha defended the government’s decision to disclose details concerning the DGP’s death, saying the information was shared in the interest of the public and in the spirit of transparency.

The Chief Minister said the available report indicated that the death was suicidal in nature. He also said that the disclosure of relevant details in the Assembly was not illegal, referring to the privileges enjoyed by members under Article 194 of the Constitution.

Dr. Saha said the post-mortem report forms part of the evidence in a police investigation and that relevant details could therefore be placed before the Assembly when appropriate.

“For the sake of transparency and in the interest of the people, I have informed everyone about the matter,” the Chief Minister said.

He further stated that in high-profile cases, the Chief Minister or Home Minister may make statements in the Assembly regarding developments in an investigation, subject to what can legally be disclosed.

The Opposition, however, remained firm on its demand for an independent probe, maintaining that the circumstances surrounding the DGP’s death required a thorough and impartial investigation.