Shillong, June 8: The National Commission for Women (NCW) has initiated suo motu action in response to distressing reports surrounding the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi and the disappearance of his wife, Sonam, during their honeymoon trip to Meghalaya.
Suspicions of human trafficking to Bangladesh have heightened concerns, particularly after the discovery of blood-stained clothing and eyewitness accounts placing the couple with unidentified men.
NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has urged the Director General of Police, Meghalaya, to intensify search operations using advanced means, including drone surveillance, search dogs, and specialized investigative teams.
She has called for a thorough exploration of all possible leads, with a detailed report to be submitted within three days.
Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has appealed to the Union Home Ministry to transfer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). However, the Meghalaya government has ruled out a CBI probe for now, with Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh stating that the state police and Special Investigation Team (SIT) are capable of handling the investigation.
Tour guide Albert Pde, has revealed that he saw Raja and Sonam accompanied by three unidentified men shortly before Raja’s murder and Sonam’s disappearance.
The police continue to investigate, including checking for any links to human trafficking or cross-border movement. The mystery of Sonam’s disappearance remains unsolved.
