By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 26: A frantic search is under way in the Sohra area for a tourist couple from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, who have been reported missing since Saturday.
Sohra police, along with local volunteers, are conducting a thorough search for the couple—Sonam Raghuvanshi and Raja Raghuvanshi—since Sunday.
On Saturday evening, police circulated their photographs to various lodges and guest houses in Sohra.
According to police, the couple arrived at Mawlakhiat village under Elaka Mynteng on May 22, riding a scooty rented from Shillong. This village is the main access point to the famed Double Decker Root Bridge in Nongriat. They reportedly hired a local guide named Bha Wansai from Mawlakhiat, who took them to Shipara Homestay in Nongriat, where they stayed the night of May 22 (Thursday).
Police further stated that the couple checked out of the homestay at 6 AM on May 23 (Friday) and were believed to be heading back to Mawlakhiat village. However, no one in the village saw them return to the parking lot where their scooty had been parked. The couple’s mobile phones have been switched off since Sunday night.
Police also mentioned that due to heavy tourist movement and a high number of parked vehicles in Mawlakhiat, it was difficult to track any specific individual.
The case came to light after the Sordar of Sohrarim village reported an abandoned scooty at around 9 pm on May 24 (Saturday). Police were able to trace the owner of the vehicle using an e-challan record and informed them about the abandoned scooty.
On May 25, the scooty’s owner visited Sohra police station and confirmed that it had been rented to the missing couple.
Police said that after getting the missing complaint from Govind Raghuvanshi, brother of Raja Raghuvanshi and multiple other sources, the police launched the search operation from Sohrarim.
The police are trying to trace the missing couple and ascertain the circumstances surrounding their disappearance.
Govind has issued a public appeal on social media urging people to share information about the whereabouts of the missing couple.