Shillong/Indore: A chilling mystery continues to unfold in Meghalaya, where a newlywed couple from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, vanished while on their honeymoon. While the body of Raja Raghuvanshi was found earlier this week, his wife Sonam Raghuvanshi remains missing, sparking an intensive search operation and national attention.
Timeline of Events:
- May 11: The couple got married in Indore.
- May 20: Raja and Sonam left for their honeymoon to Meghalaya.
- May 22: CCTV footage shows the couple checking into a hotel in Shillong, dressed in black coats and carrying a white suitcase.
- May 23: They checked out and traveled to the Cherrapunji area. Sonam’s last call to her mother-in-law mentioned a hike during her religious fast. No contact since then.
- May 24: Their rented scooty was discovered near a ditch.
- June 2: Raja’s body was recovered from a gorge near the same area; a machete, suspected to be the murder weapon, and his mobile phone were also found.
- June 5: A black raincoat with suspected bloodstains was recovered, possibly belonging to Sonam — though unconfirmed.
Ongoing Search for Sonam Raghuvanshi:
A joint search operation by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and Meghalaya Police is underway to locate the missing woman. Authorities are examining whether the recovered raincoat offers any breakthrough in the case.
Official Response and Investigation:
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has assured that “no stone will be left unturned” in delivering justice. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the case further.
Meanwhile, the victim’s family in Indore has demanded a CBI investigation, citing dissatisfaction with the current pace of the probe.
Unanswered Questions:
- What happened between May 23 and the time Raja’s body was found?
- Where is Sonam Raghuvanshi?
- Who is responsible for Raja’s murder?
- Was the raincoat linked to Sonam, and are the stains blood?