Arunachal Pradesh officer commits suicide; Covid-19 related stress could be trigger: Police

Police said when the woman’s son woke up on Saturday morning and couldn’t find his mother, he asked other family members to search for her. The body of the officer was found inside a bathroom, which was locked from inside.

Updated on: Apr 5, 2020, 15:16:25 IST

Hindustan Times, Guwahati | By Utpal Parashar

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

A 38-year-old woman disaster management officer in Arunachal Pradesh allegedly committed suicide over stress related to her work in tackling the coronavirus disease, police said on Sunday.

The woman took her life on Saturday at her residence in the state capital Itanagar and the initial investigation by the police has ruled out foul play.

Police said the officer lived with her nine-year-old son, mother-in-law and eight other people. Her husband lives in another place, they said.

Also read: How high-level group formed by govt has stepped up Covid-19 fight

Reports said the officer who used to venture out for her duties was afraid that she could infect her son.

“She was sleeping with her nine-year-old son in her room. The son slept on the bed while she slept on the floor due to fear of infection,” said a police report.

Police said when the son woke up on Saturday morning and couldn’t find his mother, he asked other family members to search for her. The body of the officer was found inside a bathroom, which was locked from inside.

The officer was allegedly drafting a resignation letter on Friday night, but she left it incomplete when other family members found out about it.

“As per her driver, she had asked him to rest from today (Saturday) onward as they had become too exhausted because of this fight against coronavirus. When the driver enquired about his duties today (Saturday), she asked him to come late,” the police report said.

A post-mortem examination has been conducted and its report is awaited, officials said.

Arunachal Pradesh has recorded one Covid-19 positive case till date. The patient had taken part in the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi last month.

Six others from the state who took part in the event at Nizamuddin Markaz have tested negative for the coronavirus.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.