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Shillong/Guwahati: The murder of Raja Raghuvanshi, a tourist from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, has sparked concerns about visitors in the Northeast. However, police investigations have now revealed that the case was not random but involved a conspiracy linked to Raja’s wife and her partner.
Raja’s body was found on June 2 in a 200-foot-deep gorge near Sohra (Cherrapunjee) in Meghalaya. The location is often used as a garbage dump. A machete, believed to be the murder weapon, was recovered nearby.
Raja and his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, had been staying at a homestay in Mawlakhiat village, East Khasi Hills. The couple went missing on May 23, and the scooter they had rented from Shillong, around 60 km away, was later found abandoned.
On Saturday night, Sonam surrendered at a police station in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. Earlier, two other suspects connected to the case were arrested in Madhya Pradesh. One more person is still on the run, and a manhunt is ongoing.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share the progress.
“Within 7 days, a major breakthrough has been achieved by the Meghalaya Police in the Raja murder case. Three assailants from Madhya Pradesh have been arrested, the female has surrendered, and one more is being tracked. Well done,” he posted.
The shocking nature of the crime had earlier led to backlash from people outside the Northeast, with questions raised about tourist safety in the region. But as details emerged, it became clear the crime was planned and involved people close to the victim.
Police continue to investigate the motive and are working to arrest the fourth accused.
