"Murder can happen anywhere”: Meghalaya mountaineers slam 'crime-prone' label amid Raja-Sonam probe

Amid rising speculation and criticism following the deaths of Raja Raghuvanshi and Sonam Kumari in Meghalaya, the West Jaintia Hills District Adventure Mountaineering Club has strongly pushed back against claims portraying the state as “crime-prone.” 
 

Defending Meghalaya’s image, the club’s founder Sambor Surong asserted that “murder can happen anywhere,” urging the public to trust the police investigation and avoid blanket judgments on the state’s safety.

The body of Raja was located and brought up by a team of eight expert mountaineers from the club, working in close coordination with the local police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). The terrain posed serious challenges, but the team pressed on with their mission.

Club founder Sambor Surong, who led the operation, addressed media and expressed concern over what he described as “false allegations” being levelled against Meghalaya in the aftermath of the incident.

“This kind of murder can happen anywhere. But now, some people are trying to portray Meghalaya as a crime-prone state, which is simply not true. Our police department has worked tirelessly to collect evidence. Let the police investigate so that no one outside makes baseless accusations,” Surong said.

Surong explained that once Raja Raghuvanshi’s body was recovered, the team was deployed to another zone to assist in locating the body of Sonam, Raja’s wife, who was also feared to have been murdered. 

Although her body remained missing, the Mountaineering Club continued to assist SDRF and police personnel already deployed deep down the cliff.

“The terrain was extremely difficult, but we did our duty. We must come forward and support the police and government rather than indulge in blame,” Surong added, highlighting the importance of community cooperation.

The West Jaintia Hills Police are leading the investigation, which is still ongoing. Senior police officers have confirmed that evidence collected at the site is being analyzed, and a detailed forensic examination is underway.

The murder case, which has drawn national attention, began as a missing persons report and soon spiraled into a major investigation after reports of a suspected murder plot surfaced. The discovery of Raja’s body has given momentum to the case, but many questions remain unanswered.

Local residents have lauded the efforts of the rescue team and security agencies for their swift and dedicated action in the high-altitude, forested region.

As Meghalaya battles both the rugged geography and public perception, voices from the ground like Surong’s aim to steer the narrative towards unity, resilience, and justice.