Bhopal: It’s Sonam Raghuvanshi, 27, who got her husband Raja Raghuvanshi, 30, killed in Meghalaya with her accomplices, claimed Meghalaya police on Monday, hours after Sonam turned up at a roadside dhaba on a national highway in Ghazipur district in Uttar Pradesh on the 18th day of the couple reported missing in Sohra (Cherrapunji) area.
The accomplices arrested include Raj Kushwaha with whom Sonam was said to be in relationship, Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan and Anand Kurmi.
The couple was in Meghalaya on Honeymoon. They visited famed Double Decker Living Root Bridges at Nongriat on May 22 and spent night at a Homestay at Nongriat itself. On their return journey from Nongriat on May 23 they were reported missing in the afternoon.
As reported in Northeast News, on Monday morning, Meghalaya director general of police I Nongrang said Raja Raghuvanshi was allegedly killed by men hired by his wife Sonam Raghuvanshi during their honeymoon in Meghalaya.
The DGP said, “The deceased’s wife, Sonam, surrendered before the police in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur, while three other assailants were arrested in overnight raids– two from Indore and one from UP. The accused reportedly confessed to the murder-for-hire plot during interrogation.”
It is reported that Sonam turned up at the roadside Dhaba at Aanskushpur village in Ghazipur district in a devastated state dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans with tears rolling in the wee hours of Monday. She requested the dhaba owner Sahil Yadav to give her his mobile phone so that she could speak to her brother. Her brother Govind who was in Meghalaya with a hope to find her over there advised her to reach the nearest police station.
In Indore, Sonam’s parents informed the police which in turn requested Ghajipur police to reach the dhaba to recover her.
As reported in Northeast News Meghalaya police issued a statement later which read, “This outcome is the result of round-the-clock efforts by the Meghalaya Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT), supported by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), local intelligence units, and law enforcement agencies across multiple states.”
“Despite geographical and logistical challenges, and sustained public and media scrutiny, our teams remained steadfast in their commitment to upholding the rule of law,” it said.
It further stated, “We take this moment to reaffirm that the Meghalaya Police is committed to delivering justice with integrity, professionalism, and perseverance. We are deeply grateful to the families, the citizens of Meghalaya, and our inter-state counterparts for their cooperation and support throughout this complex investigation.”
Earlier, chief minister, Meghalaya Conard K Sangma posted on X, “Within 7 days a major breakthrough has been achieved by the #meghalayapolice in the Raja murder case … 3 assailants who are from Madhya Pradesh have been arrested, female has surrendered and operation still on to catch 1 more assailant .. well done #meghalayapolice.”
