SHILLONG, June 15: Deeply disturbed by a “barrage of misreporting (on) and slurs” against Meghalaya in the aftermath of the Indore honeymoon couple case, Shillong MP Ricky AJ Syngkon said he would take up the matter with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
His announcement followed the state government’s decision not to pursue any legal action against prominent media houses and individuals over inflammatory and defamatory remarks made against Meghalaya, its people, and its police force following the Sohra incident.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Syngkon expressed dismay over what he described as unethical and irresponsible conduct by a section of the national media. “I will write to the Ministry, as it is unacceptable,” he said, making it clear that such misrepresentation cannot be allowed to pass without accountability.
He pointed out that while this particular case involved Meghalaya, the larger issue at stake is a growing trend of factual distortion in the country. “This is not just about Meghalaya, as such misconstruing of facts is happening across the nation, and therefore it becomes all the more important to ensure that the public is not misled,” he said.
The controversy arose after the disappearance of Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi during their honeymoon in Sohra drew the attention of the national media. As the case unfolded, several media outlets broadcast speculative and often exaggerated claims, questioning the safety of Meghalaya and portraying it as a crime-prone region. These included allegations of a lackadaisical police investigation, the need for Central Bureau of Investigation involvement, suspected abduction across the Bangladesh border, the presence of local gangs, black magic, and even organ trafficking networks.
Commiserating with the members of the grieving families in Indore, Syngkon said the media have a responsibility to act with restraint and verify facts before making damaging claims. Among the more outrageous assertions was the labelling of Sohra as a dangerous and unsafe destination for tourists.
The eventual arrest of Sonam, Raja’s wife, and several others involved in orchestrating the crime led to a dramatic shift in the narrative. With facts emerging from the investigation, some media houses and even members of the victim’s family issued apologies for their earlier comments, which cast a shadow over the state and its law enforcement agencies.
Syngkon said the damage caused to Meghalaya’s image as a peaceful and welcoming tourist destination needs urgent redressal. He emphasised the need for stronger editorial accountability and corrective mechanisms within national media frameworks to prevent the recurrence of such damaging misreporting.
