Meghalaya police have instituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the death of a tourist, Raja Raghuvanshi, whose semi-decomposed body was recovered on Monday afternoon.
Raja and his wife Sonam of Indore’s Madhya Pradesh came to Sohra for their honeymoon. They went missing on May 23.
After an eight day search, police drone spotted the dead body in a deep gorge below the Weisawdong Parking Lot at Riat Arliang at 11.48am.
Search operation for Sonam is still underway involving the police, State Disaster Response Force, Special Operation Team and the West Jaintia Hills District Adventure Mountaineering Club.
The SP said the body of Raja was identified by relatives through a distinctive tattoo on his right hand that reads, “Raja.” A lady’s white shirt, a strip of Pentra 40 medicine, a part of LCD screen of a Vivo mobile phone and smart watch were recovered from the body.
He said due to the steep and inaccessible terrain, the body was taken to the parking lot for magisterial inquest, which was conducted by Executive Magistrate Adiel R. Kynta between 3:30-4 pm in the presence of independent witnesses from the area.
The body has been sent to NEIGRIHMS, Shillong, for post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death.
“The police are actively investigating the case, and no possibilities, including foul play, have been ruled out at this stage,” the SP said, adding, “A case of murder is being registered. A Special Investigation Team ( SIT) is being formed to conduct the investigation.”
