Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday said he has requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to order a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the disappearance of an Indore-based woman in Meghalaya a fortnight back.
Yadav said he has discussed the matter with Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, adding that police from Madhya Pradesh were in touch with their counterparts in the north-eastern state.
The woman, Sonam Raghuvanshi (25), went missing along with her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi (29), on May 23, hours after they checked out of a homestay at Nongriat village in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district during their honeymoon.
On June 2, Raja’s body was found in a deep gorge near a waterfall in the Sohra area, some 20 kilometres away from the homestay.
But the Meghalaya police, who have registered a murder case after Raja’s body was found, are yet to get any clues about Sonam’s whereabouts.
In a post on X, CM Yadav said, “Madhya Pradesh stands firmly with the family of Smt Sonam Raghuvanshi in this hour of crisis.”
“I have discussed the matter with the Chief Minister of Meghalaya. Senior police officials from Madhya Pradesh are in constant touch with authorities in Meghalaya. I have requested Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah to order a CBI probe into the incident,” he said. All possible efforts were being made to ensure the safe return of Sonam Raghuvanshi, the CM added.
On Friday, the missing woman’s family urged the Centre to hand over the case to the CBI after expressing dissatisfaction with the probe by the north-eastern state’s police.
Talking to PTI, Sonam’s father, Devi Singh Raghuvanshi, alleged that his daughter had been abducted and was still in the clutches of her captors, and accused the Meghalaya police of not investigating the matter properly.
After their marriage on May 11, the couple left for Meghalaya on May 20 for their honeymoon.
They arrived at Mawlakhiat village on May 22 on a rented scooter. They parked their scooter and trekked 3,000 steps down the gorge to visit the famous living root-bridges at Nongriat village, where they stayed the night and left the homestay the following morning.
On May 24, their scooter was found abandoned at a cafe along the road from Shillong to Sohra.
A woman’s white shirt, a strip of medicine, a part of the LCD screen of a mobile phone and a smartwatch were seized at the spot where Raja’s body was found, as per the Meghalaya police.
Meghalaya BJP minister supports CBI probe
Correspondent
Shillong, Jun 7: Meghalaya’s lone Bharatiya Janata Party minister, Alexander Laloo Hek has supported the demand for a CBI probe into the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi, whose wife Sonam is still missing.
The couple from Madhya Pradesh’s Indore got married on May 11 and was on honeymoon to Sohra.
“There is a need for a CBI inquiry since the family members feels that a CBI probe can ensure justice for Raja and help in tracing Sonam,” Hek said .
Hek also informed that Chief Minis3ter Conrad Sangma has also sent a letter seeking CBI inquiry into the matter.
“The State government, Meghalaya police, NDRF (National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other agencies are putting all efforts to trace the missing woman,” the BJP minister said, adding that investigation by Meghalaya police into the incident is on full swing. On the other hand, State Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh has ruled out a central probe saying “it was not yet time for a CBI probe”.
“I think let us go stage wise, step by step. Now, after the police investigation, we have also additionally set up a Special Investigation Team and the Meghalaya Police is known for its track record of competence,” Lyngdoh said.
The Tourism Minister added, “At this stage I don’t see the relevance of a CBI probe. However, should this investigation fail, then we will take the next logical step. We will not defend, we will not protect any criminal element, whether from within or from outside the state.”
“Let the SIT go ahead with the investigation,” Lyngdoh said, adding that the Meghalaya has a “very capable” DGP who has several years of experience besides district police head, who are all very competent officers.
Noting that Sohra (Cherrapunjee) is a tourist friendly area and there has been no such incident in the area in the past, the Tourism Minister said, ““Very sad, very strange incident because Sohra has never witnessed any crime ever against tourists. It’s shocking.”
Assuring full support to the family of Sonam, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav
said he has personally spoken with his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad Sangma and Home Minister Amit Shah on the matter.
In a public statement, Yadav informed that he has requested the Union Home Minister to order a CBI inquiry into the murder of Raja and disappearance of Sonam.