Murder Mystery of Indore's King in Meghalaya... Wife Sonam Missing, Family Seeks CBI and Army Help

Indore Couple Vanishes in Meghalaya: A shocking twist emerges as the husband is brutally murdered, confirmed by police. His body is discovered 11 days after their disappearance.
In search of Sonam, the wife of the deceased Raja in Cherrapunji.

Source: aajtak

MP News:

The disappearance of newlyweds Raja Raghuvanshi and Sonam Raghuvanshi from Indore while on their honeymoon in Meghalaya has taken a sinister turn. Meghalaya Police have confirmed that Raja was brutally murdered, and his body was found on June 2 near a deep gorge by a waterfall in Sohra (Cherrapunji). The search for Sonam continues, with the family seeking investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The special investigation team (SIT) of the Meghalaya Police has termed this a clear case of murder.

On Tuesday, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem informed the media, "We have recovered the victim's mobile phone and the murder weapon, a 'dao' (traditional knife). This dao was newly purchased and was used solely for this crime. There is no doubt that this was a murder."

The body was found near where the weapon and phone were discovered, indicating the crime occurred nearby. This incident has sent shockwaves through the region.

Raja and Sonam were married on May 11 in Indore and embarked on their honeymoon to Meghalaya on May 20.

The discovery of the brutal murder marks a grim turning point in the disappearance case of the Indore couple in Meghalaya.

Source: aajtak

According to police reports, the couple arrived at Mawlyngkhat village on a rented scooter on May 22 and descended 3000 steps to see the famous 'Living Root Bridge' at Nongriat village.

They stayed overnight at a homestay and left the next morning. They were reported missing just a few hours later. On May 24, their scooter was found abandoned near a café on the Shillong-Sohra highway, sparking a search involving local villagers and police.

Search efforts are intensified to uncover the truth behind the couple’s mysterious disappearance.

Source: aajtak

Raja's body was located on Monday, 11 days later, with the help of drones, in a 100-feet deep gorge near Wei Soadong Falls, approximately 20 kilometers from Nongriat. Vivek Syiem stated the body was identified by a 'Raja' tattoo on the right arm and a waterproof smartwatch on the wrist. A woman's white shirt, a blister pack of Paintra-40, a broken mobile LCD screen, and the smartwatch were retrieved from the site. The police have registered a case of murder and destruction of evidence, with an SIT led by SP (City) Herbert Kharkongor underway.

Raja's brother, Sachin Raghuvanshi, addressing the media in Indore, said, "His body was so decomposed the face was unrecognizable. His gold rings, chain, and wallet were missing, reinforcing suspicion of murder. I demand a CBI probe to uncover the truth. I have lost my brother but don’t want to lose Sonam. The Government must find her no matter what." He also called for a search involving the army and raised suspicions on local hotel staff, guides, and scooter rental providers, urging stringent questioning.

Desperate efforts are being made to locate Sonam amid fears for her safety.

Source: aajtak

The search for Sonam continues with the involvement of Meghalaya Police, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the West Jaintia Hills District Adventure Mountaineering Club. On Tuesday, a 17-member NDRF team joined in with drones, mountaineers, and special police forces in Sohra. However, 500 mm of rainfall, landslides, and flooding from May 29-31 hampered search efforts, leading to a temporary halt on May 30. During this period, reports emerged of six fatalities and over ten injuries in East Khasi and Jaintia Hills due to the adverse weather conditions.

Authorities face difficulties in the search operations due to adverse weather conditions.

Source: aajtak

Raja's body has been sent to the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), Shillong, for postmortem. The report will clarify whether Raja was murdered before being tossed into the gorge or subsequently. Indore Member of Parliament Shankar Lalwani and Rajya Sabha Member Sumer Singh Solanki have conversed with Meghalaya’s DGP I. Nongrang and Chief Secretary DP Wahlang regarding the rescue efforts.

Meghalaya's Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma stated, "We regard tourists as family. I am personally overseeing the search and rescue operations." Madhya Pradesh's Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed condolences over Raja's death and assured every possible assistance in finding Sonam.

This incident brings to light concerns over tourist safety in Meghalaya. In April this year, Hungarian tourist Puskas Zsolt also disappeared near the Living Root Bridge, and his body was discovered 12 days later, with police terming it an accident. In the case of Raja and Sonam, families and locals are demanding a thorough investigation. The SIT is now interrogating hotel staff, guides, and scooter renters as police explore every possibility.

(Input: Sarawat Kashyap and Agencies)
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