Correspondent
Shillong: After eight days of relentless search efforts following the mysterious disappearance of honeymooners Sonam and Raja Raghuvanshi on May 23, 2025, a breakthrough was made on Monday when the decomposed body of Raja Raghuvanshi was recovered from a deep gorge near the Weisawdong Falls in Sohra.
The search operation, which included the Meghalaya Police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Special Operation Team (SOT), and the West Jaintia Hills District Adventure and Mountaineering Club, resumed with urgency in the morning. At 11:48 AM, a drone operated by police detected human remains in the deep gorge below the Weisawdong parking lot at Riat Arliang.
“Police drone spotted the dead body in the deep gorge below the Weisawdong Parking Lot at Riat Arliang at 11.48 AM,” confirmed Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem in an official press statement. Given the treacherous terrain, the recovery operation was carried out with caution, and the body was subsequently brought up to the parking area for legal procedures. A Magisterial Inquest was conducted between 3:30 PM and 4:00 PM by Executive Magistrate Smti Adiel R. Kyntan, MCS, in the presence of local independent witnesses.
The deceased was identified as Raja Raghuvanshi by relatives at the site, based on a tattoo on his right hand that read “Raja”. Further clues recovered from the location included a white women’s shirt, a strip of Pentra 40, parts of an LCD screen belonging to a Vivo mobile phone, and a smartwatch that was still on the deceased’s wrist.
“The relatives of the deceased identified the body as that of Raja Raghuvanshi through a distinctive tattoo on the deceased’s right hand reading ‘Raja’,” stated police officials at the scene.
The remains have been sent to NEIGRIHMS, Shillong, for a post-mortem examination to establish the exact cause of death. As uncertainty looms over the circumstances leading to the tragedy, authorities have confirmed that no possibilities, including foul play, are being ruled out.
“The police are actively investigating the case, and no possibilities, including foul play, have been ruled out at this stage,” said officials.
With the whereabouts of Sonam Raghuvanshi still unknown, the investigation has now taken a serious turn. The police have announced the registration of a murder case and the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe all angles surrounding the case.
A senior official remarked, “A case of murder is being registered. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is being formed to conduct the investigation.”
Despite challenging weather conditions in the Sohra region over the past week, the coordinated efforts of multiple agencies played a crucial role in the recovery of the body and in keeping the search for Sonam active.
Further updates will be issued as the investigation progresses and forensic results are received.
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