Agartala: Hours after the untimely death of Tripura Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Dhankar, the Tripura government entrusted Goduguluri Srinivasa Rao (GS Rao), a senior 1999-batch IPS officer of the Tripura cadre, with the additional charge of Director General of Police (Head of Police Force).
The General Administration (Personnel & Training) Department issued an order on Monday appointing Rao, who is currently serving as Additional Director General of Police (Armed Police), Tripura, to hold the additional charge until further orders.
The appointment comes at a difficult time for the state police force following Mr Dhankar’s sudden demise, with the Tripura government announcing a one-day State mourning in his honour.
Additional Charge After Anurag Dhankar’s Death
According to the government order, Mr Rao will continue to serve as Additional Director General of Police (Armed Police) while also discharging the responsibilities of Head of the Police Force (DGP).
The decision was taken following the demise of Anurag Dhankar (IPS:1994:Tripura), who passed away on Monday while serving as the state’s police chief.
The Tripura Cabinet expressed profound grief over Mr Dhankar’s passing and observed a two-minute silence during the Cabinet meeting. The government also declared July 21 as a day of State mourning.
Who Is GS Rao?
Mr Rao, popularly known as Mr Rao, is a 1999-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Tripura cadre.
Originally from Andhra Pradesh, Rao has spent most of his policing career in Tripura, handling operational, intelligence, training and administrative assignments over more than two decades.
He holds a B.Tech in Computer Engineering from GITAM, Andhra University, and also possesses a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree.
Extensive Experience Across Tripura
Throughout his career, Mr Rao has served in several important field postings across Tripura.
His assignments include:
- Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Amarpur
- Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural), West Tripura
- Commandant, 5th Battalion, Tripura State Rifles
- Superintendent of Police in North, West and South Tripura districts
- Superintendent of Police, Special Branch
These assignments provided him with extensive experience in policing, intelligence gathering and district administration.
Counter-Insurgency Specialist
One of the defining aspects of Mr Rao’s career has been his involvement in counter-insurgency operations.
During his tenure in Tripura, he successfully led numerous operations aimed at tackling insurgent activities and strengthening internal security.
His operational experience has made him one of the state’s most experienced officers in handling security challenges.
Shaping Future IPS Officers at the National Police Academy
Between 2010 and 2017, Mr Rao served on deputation at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) in Hyderabad.
During this period, he held the positions of:
- Assistant Director (Indoor Studies)
- Deputy Director (Basic Course)
In these roles, he was involved in training multiple batches of IPS probationers, contributing significantly to police education and leadership development.
Rise Through Senior Leadership
After returning to Tripura in 2017, IPS Rao was promoted as Inspector General of Police (IGP).
He supervised several important wings of the state police, including:
- Armed Police
- Crime Branch
- Police Training
- State Police Nodal Officer
In January 2024, he was elevated as Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Armed Police.
During this period, he focused on modernising police training systems, strengthening operational preparedness and improving strategic deployment mechanisms within the Tripura Police.
Decorated Police Officer
GS Rao has been recognised for his distinguished service with several prestigious honours.
Among them are:
- Police Antrik Suraksha Seva Padak (2007) for commendable contribution to internal security and counter-insurgency operations.
- Police Medal for Meritorious Service (2015) in recognition of his long and distinguished service.
Now Leading Tripura Police
With the additional charge of Director General of Police, GS Rao assumes responsibility for leading the Tripura Police during a challenging period following the sudden demise of Anurag Dhankhar.
Having served in almost every major policing domain – from field operations and intelligence to police training and armed police administration – Mr Rao brings more than two decades of experience to the state’s top policing position.
While his appointment is currently on an additional-charge basis, he will function as the Head of the Police Force until the Tripura government makes a regular appointment to the post.
