Reported by: Mrinal Banik
Agartala: CPI(M) legislators, who constitute the principal opposition bloc in the Tripura Assembly, staged a protest inside the Assembly on Friday, demanding a discussion on the death of Director General of Police Anurag.
They also demanded an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. The protest began after Speaker Rampada Jamatia started reading an obituary resolution.
Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury raised the issue of Anurag’s death and referred to the statement made by Chief Minister Manik Saha in the Assembly on Thursday.
Chaudhury said the death of a person who had held the post of DGP was a serious matter and should be dealt with transparently. He demanded that the government constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) or entrust the investigation to a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the death.
The Speaker, however, said members could not initiate a separate discussion on a matter related to the Chief Minister’s statement under Rule 361 of the Assembly. He said the proceedings had to be conducted in accordance with the prescribed rules.
Following the Speaker’s ruling, the microphones of Opposition legislators were switched off, after which CPI(M) MLAs left their seats and entered the well of the House. They raised slogans and demanded an independent investigation into the unnatural death of the DGP.
Saha later defended the decision to disclose information related to the investigation in the Assembly, saying it was done keeping public interest and transparency in mind.
According to the Chief Minister, the reports currently available indicate that Anurag’s death appeared to be a case of suicide.
Saha also referred to the constitutional rights and privileges available to legislators under Article 194 in connection with their legislative functions.
Saha said the post-mortem report, being part of the evidence collected during the investigation, could be disclosed as required. He said relevant documents connected with the investigation, including the post-mortem report, could be placed before the Assembly at an appropriate time.
Saha also said the Chief Minister or Home Minister could provide information in the Assembly on what could legally be disclosed during an investigation into a high-profile case.
The CPI(M), however, remained dissatisfied with the government’s position and reiterated its demand for an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Anurag’s death, either through an SIT or a sitting judge of the Tripura High Court.