• Source:JND
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A newly married couple from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, went missing while on their honeymoon in Meghalaya. Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi were reported missing on May 23. Days later, the police found the husband's body on Monday, while the search for his wife is still ongoing. Adding to the mystery, Raja’s mother received a voice message from his wife.

In the audio, she is heard short of breath, telling Raja’s mother she was on her way to a waterfall and refusing to break her religious fast. The call ends abruptly. That was the last time anyone heard from her.

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"The Meghalaya police recovered a body on Monday which was identified as that of Raja Raghuwanshi by his brother Vipin Raghuwanshi. The time and other details of the death will be had after we get the postmortem report. The police have not got any clue so far of Sonam Raghuwanshi," Indore Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Prevention Branch) Rajesh Kumar Tripathi told PTI.

The body of Raja Raghuvanshi was found on Monday, identified by police through a tattoo on his arm. His body was discovered deep in a gorge near Weisawdong Falls. A size 3XL raincoat, possibly belonging to the couple, was later recovered in the nearby Mawkma village. According to officials, the coat appeared to have a certain stain, but they declined to confirm whether it was blood. Police are working to determine if the coat belongs to Sonam.

"There is no doubt it was a murder," East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem said. "We have recovered a dao. It was new and used for this very purpose."

"We have recovered a black field coat that appears to have certain stains, but we cannot confirm if they are bloodstains. Only forensic analysis can determine that. We are comparing the recovered items with available footage to verify if the coat belongs to the missing woman. However, we can only confirm that after further examination, especially since the coat is a size 3XL raincoat," SP Vivek Syiem told ANI.

The search for Sonam is ongoing, with drones, sniffer dogs, NDRF teams, and mountaineers combing the dense, rain-soaked terrain. However, persistent heavy rainfall continues to hinder the operation.

Police say the motive is unclear. "Whether the motive was robbery, vendetta or personal enmity, we need to look for more evidence before drawing any conclusions," SP Syiem added.

The scooter rented by the couple was found abandoned in Sohrarim, around 25 km from the gorge, with the key still in the ignition. Ongoing search operations have been severely hampered by heavy rainfall and strong winds over the past week, making the terrain even more challenging to navigate.

Indore Couple Missing 

Raja Raghuwanshi (30) and Sonam Raghuwanshi (27) got married in Indore on 11 May and traveled to Meghalaya on 20 May for their honeymoon. The couple was last seen on 23 May in Sohra, also known as Cherrapunji, before going missing. Following their disappearance, the family announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for any information about their whereabouts. Raja’s brother, Sachin Raghuwanshi, has expressed concerns that the couple may have been kidnapped and has called for army deployment to assist in the search.

The family has refused to cremate Raja in Shillong, insisting that his body be brought back to Indore so his parents can bid him a proper farewell. They are also demanding a CBI probe into the case and seeking Army assistance in the ongoing search for Sonam.

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What Meghalaya Tourism Minister Said?

Meghalaya Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh called Raja Raghuvanshi’s death “unprecedented and shocking,” while assuring that the state remains safe for tourists. He urged against premature conclusions, as the investigation is ongoing. The case has intensified after police termed it a suspected homicide and recovered a possible murder weapon.

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