Agartala: Political tensions escalated in Tripura after Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman was expelled from the Assembly for the day, with the Tripura Pradesh Congress accusing the government of attempting to suppress discussion over the death of former DGP Anurag Dhankar and demanding Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha’s resignation.
At a press conference at Congress Bhavan, Pradesh Congress president Ashish Kumar Saha termed Barman’s expulsion “unjust and politically motivated.” He said the MLA had raised legitimate questions regarding the circumstances surrounding Dhankar’s death, particularly reports concerning the alleged disappearance and subsequent recovery of a suicide note.
Ashish Kumar Saha said the Opposition was seeking a neutral and transparent investigation to determine whether there had been any negligence, pressure or interference in the handling of the case. He alleged that the action against Barman was intended to prevent a debate on an issue of public concern.
Barman later addressed the media and made serious allegations about the handling of the alleged suicide note. He claimed that the document was initially reported to have been found on Dhankar’s table but later went missing before allegedly being recovered from the pocket of the deceased officer’s uniform when his belongings were handed over to his wife.
Barman questioned how a document of such importance could disappear and subsequently reappear, saying its authenticity and chain of custody required thorough examination. He also alleged that the note could contain sensitive information and questioned whether attempts had been made to conceal it. He did not disclose its contents.
The Congress MLA further alleged that authorities were focusing on possible family-related reasons for Dhankar’s death instead of examining whether professional or institutional pressures could have played a role. He questioned why an allegedly personal note would have been withheld if it contained no sensitive information.
Barman also challenged Chief Minister Saha to refute his allegations, claiming he had offered to resign as MLA if his assertions were proven wrong.
The Pradesh Congress announced that it would intensify its agitation and demanded the Chief Minister’s resignation, alleging that questions over the handling of the case warranted political accountability.
Barman said he would also raise the matter with the BJP’s central leadership during national general secretary B.L. Santosh’s proposed visit, seeking action against the Chief Minister.
