Kin, friends in shock after IPS officer Shiladitya Chetia kills self after wife’s death

GUWAHATI, June 19: Relatives, friends and well-wishers of Shiladitya Chetia, Secretary of Assam Home Political departments, are in shock after the IPS officer shot himself dead at a private nursing home in Guwahati minutes after his wife Agamonee B Chetia, a journalist, poet and writer, breathed her last battling brain tumour yesterday evening.

“It’s really very tragic. He was a very good person and loved his wife dearly. Probably he couldn’t think of living without his wife and therefore took the extreme step,” one of his aunts said in Guwahati.

A pall of glom descended at the ancestral house of Shiladitya Chetia’s father in Sivasagar district. His paternal uncle and aunt recalled the memories they had with their nephew.

“He was besides his wife during her entire treatment. He had booked a room near the ICU so that he could take care of her day and night. It’s a very sad day for all of us. But I feel that he shouldn’t have taken such a step,” another of his aunt said.

“He was a very dedicated and honest officer. He was very bright and never shirked from his duties. I have known him personally as well. We had been in touch but I could never imagine him taking such a step,” former Assam DGP Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta told News Live.

Incidentally, the last rites of Shiladitya and his wife would be performed after one of the IPS officer’s two sisters reach Guwahati from Ireland where she is presently lives.