Individuals and groups that tirelessly dedicated themselves in the search for Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi were honoured today in Sohra by Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh, Sohra MLA Gavin M Mylliem, Sohra MDC Titosstarwell Chyne and others.
The pair went missing on May 23 and their rented scooty was found the following day. Because of several locations being of interest, a large area had to be covered by the search and rescue personnel from the police, fire and emergency service and State and National Disaster Response Forces (SDRF and NDRF), as well as many locals. The search was hampered by heavy rains for several days, which led to poor visibility and made terrain trickier and more dangerous to traverse.
Finding Raja’s body on June 2 added further impetus to the search for Sonam, which continued right until the news broke on June 9 that she had gone from being a victim to a suspect in her husband’s murder and had surfaced in Uttar Pradesh.
During today’s event, Lyngdoh emphasised the importance of responsible tourism, urging tourists to visit with a clean heart and mind. He announced plans to install CCTV cameras in key tourist areas and construct a facility for street vendors near Mawkdok Bridge.
Mylliem stressed the need for collaboration between the government, dorbars and community leaders to strengthen the tourism ecosystem. Chyne praised the police for their professionalism and swift action, highlighting the need for better inclusion of local guides and taxi drivers in tourism-related activities.
The event concluded with the distribution of certificates and cash awards to individuals and groups who assisted in the investigation, including the Tour Guide Association of Meghalaya, West Jaintia Hills Adventure Sports & Mountaineering Association and the Sohra Taxi Owners Association.
A total cash award of Rs 5.4 lakh was distributed among 36 members of private groups at Rs 15,000 per individual, with government personnel, including police, SDRF, Fire & Emergency Services, and administrative staff felicitated with certificates of appreciation for their exemplary service.
