States » EastPosted at: Jun 17 2025 9:29PM


Raja Raghuvanshi's murder case re-enacted, another murder weapon found from crime scene

Sohra, June 17 (UNI) The Special Investigation Team (SIT) today recreated the crime scene with Sonam Raghuvanshi and her aides in the murder of her husband Raja Raghuvanshi at the Wei Sawdong parking lot.

The investigators found during the recreation of the murder that two machetes were used to kill the Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi on May 23. The second machete with a steel handle which was thrown by the accused was recovered by the State Disaster Response Force during the day.

Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused and widow of Raja Raghuvanshi and the other three accused - Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan and Anand Kurmi – were first driven from Shillong to Mawlakhiat village parking lot and then proceeded to Wei Sawdong parking lot where the cold-blooded murder took place.

“Three blows were inflicted on Raja. The first blow on Raja was inflicted by Vishal alias Vicky. The second blow by Anand and the third blow by Akash,” Vivek Syiem, the district police chief of East Khasi Hills, said.

The SIT recreated the murder scene by asking a personnel from the Fire and Emergency Service to pose as Raja and the four accused enacted the actual murder scene with their exact positions.

During the recreation of the crime scene which lasted for nearly two hours, the investigators asked how, they struck Raja and then the manner in which they dragged his body to the exact spot and dumped him down the gorge.

“Sonam had already given a signal to them at the parking lot (Wei Sawdong) to finish the job. Sonam was close by, in fact she was in front when this happened and Raja was behind. Vishal was to the right of Raja and Akash was just behind, but to the left and Anand was also to the left.

When Vishal hit the first time blood spilled out and Raja had fallen, Sonam ran away from the scene because Raja was screaming. The body was thrown by the three of them - two of them held him by his hands and one from the legs,” Syiem added.

“The reconstruction was videographed and there were independent witnesses. It was very successful,” Syiem said.

The motive of the crime during preliminary investigation was “love triangle,” but Syiem said the investigators are now trying to find out if there is some other motive to the murder.

“Sonam has admitted to the crime again at the reconstruction site…like all criminals they have now shown regret in committing the crime,” Syiem said.

He also informed a team from the SIT has left for Indore on Monday and are conducting their investigation.

“They will be going to the rented apartment where Sonam had stayed after fleeing from Shillong. They will also record statement of other individuals,” Syiem said

Earlier, the SIT drove down to Mawlakhiat village to identify the routes the four accused undertook and places where they stopped and possibly people whom they spoke to.

This village is on the way to Nongrait village - famed for the double decker root bridge - where Sonam and Raja stayed overnight on May 22 as part of their honeymoon.

Investigators says Vishal, Akash and Anand had befriended Raja at Nongriat and got into a conversation with him on their return journey from the village. They had planned to kill Raja on the way.

“The accused persons stopped in at least five spots at Mawlakhait village and attempted to kill Raja there, but failed. So they came to Wei Sawdong parking lot found it isolated and committed the crime,” Syiem said

Meanwhile, the SIT also took the four accused to AD view point at Mawkma village where a “blood stained raincoat” was found.

The murder of Raja Raghuvanshi came to light after villagers found an abandoned two-wheeler with keys on it at Sohrarim village between Shillong and Sohra road on May 24. The two-wheeler was hired by Raja and Sonam from Meghalaya’s capital Shillong for four days. UNI RRK SSP
Tags: #Raja Raghuvanshi's murder case re-enacted# another murder weapon found from crime scene
More News
CHC gives interim stay on new OBC list notification till July 31

CHC gives interim stay on new OBC list notification till July 31

17 Jun 2025 | 11:54 PM

Kolkata, June 17 (UNI) In a major blow to the West Bengal government, the Calcutta High Court has has given an interim stay on the move to prepare a revised list of Other Backward Classes (OBC) which included the addition of 140 new sub-categories.

see more..
Odisha DGP orders Crime Branch probe into Gopalpur gang rape case

Odisha DGP orders Crime Branch probe into Gopalpur gang rape case

17 Jun 2025 | 11:48 PM

Bhubaneswar, June 17 (UNI) Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Bahadur Khurania on Tuesday ordered a Crime Branch inquiry into the Gopalpur gang rape case, which has been classified as a Red Flag case.

see more..

Mizoram eyes ropeway network to beat city congestion

17 Jun 2025 | 11:06 PM

Aizawl, June 17 (UNI) In a bid to decongest its fast-growing capital, Mizoram is exploring the possibility of introducing a ropeway system under the Centre’s Parvatmala Pariyojana – a national ropeway development initiative aimed at improving mobility in hilly terrains, a top functionary said today.

see more..
PM Modi fooling people of Bihar: Prashant

PM Modi fooling people of Bihar: Prashant

17 Jun 2025 | 11:03 PM

Patna, June 17 (UNI) Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Tuesday charged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been befooling people of Bihar during his every visit to the state.

see more..

Odisha: Bhitarkanika Park officials rescue 6 2-foot-long saltwater crocodile

17 Jun 2025 | 10:52 PM

Kendrapara, June 17 (UNI) Personnel of Bhitarkanika National Park today rescued a 6.2-foot-long male saltwater crocodile from a pond at Dangamala village in the district.

see more..