In a grim development, Meghalaya police launched a murder investigation on Monday after a partially decomposed body was discovered deep inside a remote gorge in Sohra (Cherrapunji). The body, identified by a distinctive tattoo, is believed to be that of Raja Raghuvanshi, a missing tourist from Indore.
Raja and his wife, Sonam, had been honeymooning in Meghalaya’s scenic hills when they went missing on May 23. Their disappearance triggered a large-scale search involving multiple agencies, including the Meghalaya Police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Special Operations Team (SOT), and a local mountaineering club.
The grim discovery occurred around 11:48 a.m. when a police-operated drone spotted the human remains lying in a steep ravine beneath the Weisawdong Parking Lot at Riat Arliang. Due to the difficult and dangerous terrain, a specially trained rescue team was dispatched to recover the body.
Identification was confirmed through a tattoo on the deceased’s right hand bearing the name “Raja.” Personal belongings found near the body include a woman’s white shirt, a broken LCD screen likely from a cellphone, a smartwatch, and a strip of Pentra 40 tablets—all now critical pieces of evidence in the ongoing investigation.
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A magisterial inquest was held at the site between 3:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. by Executive Magistrate Adiel R. Kynta in the presence of local residents. Following the inquest, the body was transported to the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) in Shillong for a post-mortem to establish the cause and time of death.
A senior police officer from East Khasi Hills confirmed that foul play is suspected, stating, “We are treating this case as a possible homicide. A murder investigation is being formally initiated, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to conduct a thorough inquiry.”
The search for Sonam continues, with rescue teams combing the rugged terrain in hopes of finding her or uncovering more evidence. This tragic incident has raised serious concerns about tourist safety in Meghalaya, a popular eco-tourism destination. It has also led to public demands for stricter safety regulations and improved emergency response mechanisms in the state’s beautiful yet challenging tourist areas.
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