Did Raj Plan the Murder of Raja? SP Syiem Unveils Disturbing Scheme

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Raj Kushwaha masterminded the murder of Raja Raghuwanshi.
- The plot involved Sonam Raghuwanshi, Raja's wife, who aided in the conspiracy.
- Initial plans to make Sonam disappear were unsuccessful.
- The murder took place in Sohra (Cherrapunji).
- All accused have been apprehended, and further investigations are ongoing.
Shillong, June 12 (NationPress) In a shocking disclosure on Thursday, East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem detailed the chilling events that led to the calculated murder of Raja Raghuwanshi, labeling it a carefully orchestrated conspiracy by Raj Kushwaha, the alleged ‘lover’ of the victim’s wife, Sonam Raghuwanshi.
During a press briefing, SP Syiem rejected the notion of a contract killing, emphasizing that this was an act committed by acquaintances as a “favor” to Raj.
“Raj is the mastermind behind Raja’s murder,” Syiem asserted. “He devised the scheme, with Sonam—Raja’s spouse—providing support throughout the ordeal.”
According to law enforcement, Raj initially aimed to make Sonam vanish in February of this year. The first scheme involved drowning her in a river, while the second aimed at securing a woman’s corpse to incinerate alongside Sonam’s scooty, thereby convincing everyone that Sonam had perished. Nevertheless, both of these plans faltered.
On May 11, Sonam wed Raja Raghuwanshi. Shortly thereafter, they visited the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati. Meanwhile, Raj’s associates—Vishal, Anand, and Akash, who is Raj’s cousin—arrived in Guwahati on May 19.
The trio initially intended to eliminate Raja in Guwahati, yet that attempt was unsuccessful. Ultimately, Sonam herself proposed relocating the murder plan to Sohra (Cherrapunji), where the group regrouped.
Syiem reported that all suspects gathered in a parking area in Sohra. There, the three men executed Raja and disposed of his body in a gorge, with Sonam present during the heinous act.
Timeline of Events:
Approximately 2:18 PM, all suspects fled the scene.
Sonam gave her raincoat to Akash to conceal bloodstains on his shirt.
Sonam then drove a scooty away from the crime scene, later discarding the raincoat at AV Point.
Following this, Akash rode the scooty, with Sonam as a pillion passenger.
The rented scooty, previously booked by Raja, was eventually abandoned by Anand near the Sohra border.
Police investigations uncovered blood stains on Akash’s shirt. After discarding the raincoat, Sonam hailed a taxi from the local stand while donning a burqa arranged by Vishal through Raj.
Her escape route traversed several states: from Guwahati to Siliguri by bus, then Patna, Ara, Lucknow, and ultimately to Indore by bus.
Once the group realized they had been identified by police, Raj reportedly instructed Sonam to vacate Indore. SP Syiem stated that in a state of panic, Raj called Sonam and directed her to contact her family, falsely claiming she had escaped from kidnappers.
“All five suspects have now been apprehended. Interrogations are ongoing, and the crime scene will be reconstructed soon,” SP Syiem concluded.