Commission takes suo motu cognisance, seeks urgent report on Sohra murder and missing woman cases
SHILLONG, June 8: The National Commission for Women (NCW) has asked Meghalaya DGP Idashisha Nongrang to submit a detailed report to the commission on the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi and the disappearance of his wife Sonam within three days.
The NCW has taken suo motu cognisance of a disturbing media report regarding Raja’s murder and Sonam’s disappearance in Meghalaya, with alarming suspicions of human trafficking to Bangladesh.
“Recent findings, including bloodstained clothing and eyewitness accounts of the couple seen with unidentified men, indicate serious foul play,” the Commission said.
NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar wrote to the DGP, seeking immediate and intensified search operations using drones, search dogs, and specialised teams; expansion of the investigation to examine all possible leads and forensic evidence; and collaboration with national agencies if required.
She also directed that the accused be arrested without delay, adding that a detailed report must be submitted to the commission within three days.
Meanwhile, 16 days have passed since the couple from Indore went missing in the forests of Sohra. While Raja’s body was recovered on June 2, the whereabouts of Sonam remain unknown despite relentless efforts by police and rescue teams.
Mounting pressure from Madhya Pradesh residents has prompted urgent calls for Meghalaya Police to intensify efforts and bring clarity to the mysterious case. The Shillong Times spoke with some police investigators, who shared insights, on condition of anonymity, into how the case might be cracked
According to the experts, the police or SIT must begin by collecting details of all tourists who checked into the hotels and resorts in Shillong and Sohra between May 21 and 23.
Since local guides confirmed the Raghuvanshis were last seen with three other tourists, the experts suggest showing the guides and witnesses identity cards and photos of those guests to identify the trio.
“All hotels and homestays maintain records with ID cards. These should be cross-referenced with eyewitness accounts to zero in on the individuals seen with the couple,” an investigator stated.
The experts further recommended a police team visit Indore to conduct background checks on both Raja and Sonam, as well as their families, to uncover any possible leads. In addition, they advise checking the couple’s stay in Guwahati, including their hotel details and itinerary, for more clues.
Ruling out theories that Sonam may have been trafficked to Bangladesh, investigators say such a cross-border operation is not easy. “Crossing the Indo-Bangla border isn’t simple. If she had been abducted and taken across, demands for ransom or extortion would have surfaced by now,” one expert said.
Despite weather-related challenges, police continue their exhaustive search. However, frustrations are growing among citizens in Madhya Pradesh, many of whom are taking to social media to criticise the pace and direction of the investigation.
Several netizens have urged authorities to search for Sonam as a living person, not merely her body, and called for the scope of the probe to be widened.
While Meghalaya Police and multiple agencies remain on high alert, the mysterious disappearance continues to baffle investigators and haunt two states.