States » EastPosted at: Jun 30 2025 11:14PM


Tourists guides made mandatory after honeymoon murder case in Meghalaya

Shillong, June 30 (UNI) The Meghalaya government has made it mandatory for tourists to hire tourist guide services while trekking to avoid any unfortunate events, an official said today.

Deputy Commissioner and Chairperson of the District Tourism Promotion Society (DTPS), East Khasi Hills district, R.M. Kurbah today directed all tourists to hire registered guides for their proposed hikes.

“In view of the safety reasons, it is mandatory for tourists to take tourist guide services while trekking to avoid any unfortunate events," Kurbah stated in her order.

This decision comes after two tragic incidents in the district at Sohra, one of the popular tourist destination in Meghalaya, this year.

In the first case, a Hungarian national, Puskás Zsolt, was found dead on April 10 along an abandoned trail near Ramdait, a village in the Shella area of the Sohra subdivision bordering Bangladesh. Zsolt had set off on a solo trek to Nongriat - home to the famed living double decker root bridge.

The second incident was the high-profile murder of a Indore-based businessman Raja Raghuvanshi allegedly by his wife Sonam Raghuvanshi during their honeymoon at the Wei Sawdong parking lot in Sohra on May 23.

The couple had hired a guide to take them to Nongriat village on May 22, but decided not to hire a guide for their return journey.

Initially, the couple were reported missing from Sohra on May 23, until the search and rescue team of Meghalaya Police recovered Raja’s decomposed body from a deep gorge below a viewpoint next to the Wei Sawdong parking lot on June 11.

Sonam and seven co-accused have been arrested by Meghalaya Police in connection with the murder of the Indore-based businessman.

Following the arrest of Sonam and other murder suspects, there was a growing demand to make tourist guide services mandatory for tourists to ensure safety and security while trekking in the state.

East Khasi Hills offers some pristine hiking areas that includes several in Sohra like the 3,000 odd steps hike to Nongriat’s double decker bridge.
UNI RRK RN
Tags: #Tourists guides made mandatory after honeymoon murder case in Meghalaya
More News

Bihar nurturing engineers, researchers through affordable technical education

01 Jul 2025 | 1:44 AM

Patna, June 30 (UNI) Bihar is nurturing the engineers and researchers of tomorrow by offering affordable technical education including Polytechnic Diplomas, B. Tech, M. Tech and Ph.D. education.

see more..

Adani group and ISKCON join hands to serve devotees during Puri Rath Yatra

01 Jul 2025 | 1:38 AM

Bhubaneswar, June 30 (UNI) Every year, the sacred Rath Yatra in Puri transforms the spiritual landscape of India, drawing millions of devotees from across the country and the world. But in 2025, this grand celebration of faith added a deeper layer of meaning, a powerful blend of devotion, service, and social responsibility.

see more..

Rare Tagore works achieve exceptional results at AstaGuru’s ‘Collectors’ auction

01 Jul 2025 | 1:37 AM

Kolkata, June 30 (UNI) AstaGuru recently concluded ‘Collectors’ Choice’ auction witnessed remarkable results for two rare and historically significant offerings by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, reaffirming his enduring legacy and cultural resonance as they sold over Rs 6 crore in online auctions.

see more..

Bhognadih incident on Hul Diwas draws sharp exchange between BJP and JMM

01 Jul 2025 | 1:36 AM

Ranchi, June 30 (UNI) A clash between police and villagers in Bhognadih on the occasion of Hul Diwas has ignited a fierce political row in Jharkhand, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) trading sharp accusations over what the opposition termed a “barbaric lathi-charge” on tribal protestors.

see more..

Nitish announces Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for workers killed in Telangana factory explosion

01 Jul 2025 | 1:11 AM

Patna, June 30 (UNI) Expressing deep sorrow over the tragic death of workers following an explosion at the Seegchi Chemical Factory located in the Pasha Melaram industrial area of Sangareddy district, Telangana, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today announced an exgratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased workers from Bihar.

see more..