Assam IPS Shoots Himself Minutes After Losing Wife To Cancer

Shortly after his wife lost her battle against cancer and was declared dead at a hospital in Guwahati, senior IPS officer Shiladitya Chetia took his own life with his service weapon on Tuesday afternoon.

Shiladitya Chetia, a 44-year-old DIG-rank IPS officer from the 2009 batch, was serving as Secretary, Home and Political with the Assam government. He had been on leave for the past four months to care for his ailing wife, Agamonee Barbaruah, who had been undergoing treatment at Nemcare Hospital, a private hospital in Guwahati.

According to hospital sources, the couple had been residing at the hospital for almost two months. Dr. Hitesh Baruah, the hospital’s MD, stated that Agamonee had been battling cancer for about two years and had received treatment elsewhere before being admitted to Nemcare Hospital for conservative treatment.

“In the last three days, we had informed him that her condition was deteriorating. Today at 4.30 pm, the attending doctor informed him of her passing. The doctor and a nurse were in the room with him and he requested them to step out, saying that he wanted to pray. Around 10 minutes later, a loud sound was heard from the room,” Dr. Baruah said.

Assam DGP G P Singh expressed sorrow over the tragic incident, stating, “In an unfortunate turn of events, Sri Shiladitya Chetia IPS 2009 RR, Secretary Home & Political Government of Assam, took his own life this evening, a few minutes after the attending physician declared the death of his wife who was battling cancer for a long time. Entire Assam Police family is in deep grief.”

Chetia had a successful career as an IPS officer, serving as SP in Golaghat, Tinsukia, and Sonitpur districts before his current role. He had also served as Commandant of the 4th Assam Police Battalion.

Sources indicate that Chetia’s father, Pramod Chetia, was also a DIG-rank police officer and passed away a few years ago.