New Delhi: The Meghalaya government has ramped up search operations for 27-year old Sonam Raghuwanshi, a tourist from Indore who went missing during her honeymoon in Sohra, Cherrapunji. The state government has deployed drone surveillance to scan the dense terrain of the region.
Sonam and Raja Raghuwanshi, who had got married recently, arrived in Meghalaya on May 22. A day later, they reportedly visited the famous Weisawdong waterfalls. Later on both went missing and their family members could not contact them, despite repeated attempts.
Search operations intensified; suspicion of foul play
Raja’s decomposed body was recovered from a deep gorge last week. Sonam, however, remains untraceable. It has intensified the suspicion of foul play.
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The Meghalaya police along with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Fire and Emergency Services as well as local volunteers are involved in the extensive search for Sonam. However, heavy fog and poor visibility has hindered the search operations. Drone technology has been deployed to overcome the geographical and challenges related to the weather. It has also allowed the aerial scan of inaccessible areas.
A black raincoat with suspected bloodstains was recovered from near a tourist viewpoint. It has been sent for forensic analysis.
Sonam’s family, who are in Meghalaya, continue to hold hope and are appealing to authorities to intensify their search operations. They claim her belongings including her mobile phone, are missing, suggesting that this case might be that of an abduction or forcible deportation across the border into Bangladesh.
Sonam’s brother has urged the authorities to “stop looking for a dead body.”
“My sister is alive. She has been abducted. I want to request Meghalaya CM to stop looking for a dead body”, claimed Sonam’s brother, Govind.
The need for enhanced security measures
Opposition leader Mukul Sangma has called for enhanced security measures such as the installation of CCTVs at vantage entry points to the state.
The Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad Sangma has emphasised that there is no time to play politics over this issue and that it serves as a wake up call for the government and the people of the state. Meanwhile, the investigation is still underway into the murder of Sonam’s husband, Raja Raghuwanshi.
