Daijiworld Media Network - Shillong
Shillong, Jun 8: The disappearance of a honeymooning couple from Indore in Meghalaya's Sohra area has taken a mysterious turn after a local tourist guide claimed he saw the duo accompanied by three other men on May 23 — the day they went missing.
Raja Raghuvanshi's decomposed body was recovered from a gorge near Weisawdong falls on June 2, while the search for his wife Sonam continues. Local guide Albert Pde, who works in Mawlakhiat, told police and PTI that he saw the couple with three men while they were climbing the 3,000-step trail from Nongriat to Mawlakhiat around 10 am on May 23.
“I recognised them because I had offered my services to them the previous day, but they had chosen another guide,” Pde said. He added that the four men walked ahead, conversing in Hindi, while Sonam followed behind.
Pde also noted that the couple had spent the night at Shipara homestay and returned without a guide the next day. He said the couple’s rented scooter, which was later found abandoned in Sohrarim with the keys still latched, was not at the Mawlakhiat parking lot when he arrived.
Meanwhile, Sonam’s brother Govind, who has been stationed in Shillong since the incident, expressed dissatisfaction with the ongoing search efforts. “They are looking for her as if she is dead. We believe she is alive. Why can’t the CBI or another agency take over?” he asked.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the state government was “leaving no stone unturned” in the search. However, treacherous terrain, heavy rainfall, and poor visibility have hampered rescue operations, police said.
Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem added, “Our teams are working non-stop, using trained dogs, drones, and other gadgets. The operation will continue.”
In a development that raised suspicion of foul play, police found a bloodstained machete near the gorge where Raja’s body was discovered. His gold ring and neck chain were missing. A raincoat, believed to belong to Sonam, was found days later in Mawkma village.
A lack of infrastructure at Mawlakhiat — including the absence of CCTV and visitor records — has complicated the investigation. Locals have now resolved to start recording vehicle and visitor details.
A special investigation team led by a Superintendent of Police and assisted by four DSPs has been formed, and search operations continue with the help of NDRF, SDRF, mountaineers, drones, and sniffer dogs.