Assam bureaucrat shoots himself dead minutes after wife loses cancer battle

This is the story of a loving husband and a grieving son. It ends in a tragedy. Shiladitya Chetia, a 44-year-old IPS officer of the 2009 batch, who was serving as Assam home and political secretary, shot himself dead as he could not bear the passing of his wife.

The incident took place in Guwahati where Chetia's 40-year-old wife Agamoni Borbaruah was battling cancer. She was being treated at the hospital for about two months. Prior to that she was receiving treatment in Chennai.

On 18th of June, Agamoni lost her battle with cancer. It was too big a loss for the brave cop who was once awarded a President's gallantry medal. As soon as his wife died, Chetia sought some moments alone with her. He told the medical staff he wanted to pray next to his wife's body. Minutes later, he took his life with his service weapon.

Nemcare's managing director Hitesh Baruah said as the hospital staff rushed in, they found Chetia lying beside his wife's body. They could not save him.

Soon after the incident, former Assam Police DGP Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta, who is now the state's chief information commissioner, reached the hospital.

Mahanta said Chetia was like a younger brother to him. He said he was in touch with Chetia while his wife struggled with cancer but had no clue he would take this extreme step. Mahanta also revealed how Chetia had been struggling after losing his loved ones in the recent past.

Mahanta said Chetia's life was full of problems, he had lost his mother and mother-in-law not long ago and was taking care of his wife. Chetia survived those losses but the death of his wife proved to be the final straw.

Chetia, whose father was also a police officer, was an outstanding cop who had led several operations against criminal and terror outfits. He was decorated with the President's Police Medal for Gallantry on Independence Day in 2015 for them. His wife Agamoni had studied English and foreign languages at Tezpur University and was said to be a topper.

The couple had an arranged marriage in May 2013. They did not have a child. Chetia is survived by two sisters.