Assam Home Secy shoots self in ICU '10 minutes' after wife dies of cancer

Shiladitya Chetia, who was serving as Secretary, home and political department, in the Assam government, died by suicide on Tuesday in Guwahati only “10 minutes” after his wife breathed her last at ICU of a hospital following a prolonged illness.  

Chetia, the 2009-batch officer from the Indian Police Service (IPS) allegedly shot himself dead with his service gun inside the isolated Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where his wife died.

A report by The Print quoted Dr Hitesh Baruah, director of the Nemcare Super Specialty hospital in Guwahati as saying that Chetia took his life, only “ten minutes” after his wife died at the isolated ICU of the hospital.

Baruah said Chetia’s wife was battling terminal brain cancer for the past few months.

As per NDTV report, she was in the fourth stage of carcinoma and was undergoing treatment.

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Chetia was on leave for the last four months to take care of his wife who was 43, a year younger than him.

Baruah said Chetia was briefed about his wife’s deteriorating health condition. He was informed about his wife’s death on Tuesday evening.

After getting the news, Chetia reached the hospital and asked the attending doctor and nurse to step out for a moment and leave him with his wife’s body as he wanted to pray.

“Suddenly, they heard a loud noise. They went back running to see Chetia had shot himself and his body was lying in a pool of blood,” Baruah said.

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“We tried to save him, but he succumbed to his injuries,” he added.

Chetia shot himself in the back of his head with his service pistol and died around 4:32 pm, Baruah said, adding that his wife passed away around 4:24 pm. It is learnt that the couple had no children.

Chetia’s body has been taken to the Guwahati Medical College hospital for postmortem.

After getting the news of Chetai’s death, several senior police officers rushed to the hospital.

One of the police official told IANS, “Shiladitya Chetia was mentally down due to his wife’s ill health for the last few days and the unfortunate incident happened today. He was staying at the hospital and looking after his wife.”

We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Shri Shiladitya Chetia IPS 2009 RR, Secretary Home & Political, Government of Assam and his wife .

The entire police family is in profound grief and shock.

Shri Chetia's unwavering dedication to Assam will always be cherished. pic.twitter.com/Ba9FlQGIxR

— Assam Police (@assampolice) June 18, 2024

Chetia has also served as Superintendent of Police in Golaghat, Barpeta and Sonitpur districts. He also oversaw counter insurgency operations in Tinsukia, before assuming charge as a secretary in the Assam government.

The Director General of Assam Police, G P Singh offered his condolences. In a post on social media, DGP Singh said: “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."

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… pic.twitter.com/s2yQpVuUpl

— GP Singh (@gpsinghips) June 18, 2024

“Entire Assam Police family is in deep grief,” he added.

With inputs from agencies