Shillong (Meghalaya) [India], June 12 (ANI): The manager of a hotel in Shillong has revealed that Raja Raghuvanshi and Sonam Raghuvanshi, the couple at the center of a shocking murder case, had kept their luggage at the hotel for two to three days while searching for accommodation in the area. The hotel’s CCTV footage, which has since been handed over to the police, is expected to play a crucial role in the investigation.
“They had visited here to find a room, but due to the unavailability of rooms, they had kept their luggage here for 2–3 days. Soon after we learnt about this case, we informed the police, who took away their luggage. The couple had come here on a two-wheeler. We have shared the CCTV footage with the Police,” the manager stated.
This development comes amid intense scrutiny of the case, which has been labelled a “pre-planned and organised crime” by Meghalaya Minister Alexander Laloo Hek. On Thursday, the minister reiterated that the state government and its people are committed to ensuring that the accused are punished under the full extent of the law.
“This is a purely organised and pre-planned crime. It was initiated by Sonam Raghuvanshi. From the beginning, they wanted to eliminate Raja Raghuvanshi. We must conduct a full investigation, and they should be punished under the law,” Hek told ANI.
Five key suspects, including Sonam Raghuvanshi, are currently in police custody for eight days. The suspects—Sonam Raghuvanshi, Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, Raj Singh Kushwaha, and Anand—have been accused of conspiring to murder Raja Raghuvanshi, who had recently married and was on his honeymoon in Meghalaya.
The minister also addressed initial backlash from the victim’s family, who had blamed the Meghalaya Police and local residents after learning of Raja’s death. “It was very sad that their son was brutally murdered, and at that moment, they blamed the people of Meghalaya and the police. But now we are very happy that they have apologised,” he added.
Minister Hek further praised the state police for their swift and effective action in apprehending the accused. “I would like to give my praise to the Meghalaya state police for doing a very significant job of nabbing the culprits,” he said.
Another critical breakthrough in the investigation came when police recovered a mangalsutra and a ring from a suitcase belonging to Sonam Raghuvanshi, which had been left behind in a homestay. Minister Hek described these items as “vital clues” that could aid the investigation.
“I saw the news that Meghalaya police have found a mangalsutra and ring from Sonam’s suitcase. So I think this is a very vital clue. The people of Meghalaya and the government want the accused to be punished according to the law,” he stated.
The case took a tragic turn when Raja Raghuvanshi’s body was discovered on June 2 in a gorge at Sohra near Cherrapunji. Sonam was later found alone near a roadside dhaba on the Varanasi-Ghazipur highway in Uttar Pradesh. Both Raja and Sonam were residents of Indore, Madhya Pradesh, and had been reported missing during their honeymoon in the northeastern state. (ANI)
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