The 29-year-old was identified by a “Raja” tattoo on his right hand. His body bore injuries consistent with foul play. Police recovered a bloodstained weapon and Raja’s belongings scattered around the site, including missing gold jewellery and his wallet—raising strong suspicion of a robbery-cum-murder.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) continues relentless efforts in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills as the search for missing tourist Sonam Raghuvanshi stretches into its third week. Mounting evidence suggests her husband Raja Raghuvanshi’s murder may be tied to a local dispute that spiralled into violence.
A highly trained NDRF unit joined the multi-agency search in Sohra earlier this week, working alongside the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Meghalaya Police, and Special Operations Teams in increasingly treacherous terrain. Their mission has taken on a new urgency after Raja’s body was discovered in a deep gorge on Monday, nearly 20 kilometers from Nongriat village, where the couple last stayed on May 22.
The 29-year-old was identified by a “Raja” tattoo on his right hand. His body bore injuries consistent with foul play. Police recovered a bloodstained weapon and Raja’s belongings scattered around the site, including missing gold jewelry and his wallet—raising strong suspicion of a robbery-cum-murder.
“We are using drones, mountaineers, and special police units to speed up the search,” confirmed East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem, emphasizing the scale of coordination now underway.
But the weather has proven a formidable adversary. Torrential rain over the past three days nearly 500 mm, equal to Mysore’s annual rainfall has triggered landslides and flash floods, halting operations and claiming at least six lives in the region. Visibility in the Sohra area dropped dangerously low on Thursday, forcing teams to temporarily suspend the search.
The couple from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, checked out of their Nongriat homestay on May 23, planning to explore the iconic living root bridges. They parked their rented scooter at Mawlakhiat and descended 3,000 steps into the gorge, after which they were never seen again.
A special investigation team (SIT) has been formed, and police have officially registered a murder case. Among the critical evidence collected from the area are a white women’s shirt, broken mobile phone parts, medicine strips, a smartwatch, and other personal items offering hope for clues to Sonam’s fate.
Meanwhile, Sonam’s family clings to hope. Her brother Govind made an emotional appeal, urging authorities to intensify efforts: “We believe Sonam is alive. We request the Chief Minister to accelerate the search.”