Meghalaya honeymoon murder: Accused brought to Sohra for recreating crime scene

SOHRA: Meghalaya Police on Tuesday brought all the accused in the Raja Raghuvanshi murder case — including his wife, Sonam — to Sohra for a crime scene reconstruction, officials confirmed.Raja was hacked to death on May 23 during his honeymoon trip to the northeastern state. The authorities have arrested his wife Sonam, her purported lover Raj, and three contract killers in relation to the homicide."They were taken to a parking lot above the gorge where the body of Raja was found on June 2. As part of the investigation, the accused will be asked to demonstrate the scene indicating Raja's final moments as per their statement," a senior police officer said.

A forensic team has also reached the spot, he said.Raja's decomposed remains were found in the ravine close to the Weisawdong Falls on June 2. The hunt for Sonam ended when she appeared in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur, around 1,200 km distant, during the early hours of June 9 and turned herself in, whilst police apprehended her alleged partner and the three contract killers.The suspects are being held by Meghalaya Police, whilst an SIT conducts the investigation.

DGP I Nongrang stated on Monday that the SIT was investigating the matter from multiple perspectives."We are investigating whether there is anything more to this case. It is unusual that within a few days of marriage, she (Sonam) would develop so much animosity for her husband," Nongrang said."We are exploring all possible angles. There is enough evidence, and the loose ends are being tied up," she added.The hitmen, reportedly friends of Raj, allegedly struck Raja on the head with a machete in front of Sonam at the parking lot near Weisawdong Falls, before pushing his body into the gorge, police said.After the murder, Sonam fled Meghalaya and travelled through Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh to reach Indore.However, she left behind her mangalsutra and a ring in her trolley bag at a homestay in Sohra, which raised police suspicions, officials said.Meanwhile, a video shared by a tourist on social media has gone viral, showing Sonam and Raja climbing up from Nongriat just hours before his brutal murder.Police have confirmed the authenticity of the video.East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem had earlier said that Sonam confessed to being a part of the conspiracy to kill her husband."At first, it appeared that Sonam and her boyfriend hired the hitmen, but later we found out the three were close friends of Raj and they killed Raja as a favour to their friend," he said.The SIT has also requested help from the Assam Police and authorities in several other states that the accused visited before and after the crime, an official said.