In the quiet
hills of Meghalaya,
a honeymoon turned
into a headline — and,
unusually, not one that
spilled across borders.
On May 23, a newlywed
couple from Indore,
India, arrived in the
picturesque town of
Sohra (formerly Cherrapunji)
. Just one day later,
both were missing. Phones
switched off. Scooter
abandoned. For 17 days,
silence.
On June 2, the husband’s
body was discovered in a
remote gorge. Wounds
suggested violence. The case
instantly drew media attention.
But here’s the twist: no one
blamed Pakistan. No cross-
border theories. No
diplomatic drama.
Thank heavens for small
mercies — especially when sindoor
is involved.
The Plot Unfolds
It seemed like a tragic
accident or, perhaps, a local crime.
But investigators quietly
followed the facts.
By June 9, the bride,
Sonam Raghuvanshi, was
found alive — and under
arrest. She had, police say,
orchestrated the murder
with the help of her lover
and hired attackers.
A love triangle turned fatal.
In a region where love
often meets resistance,
and honour sometimes
overshadows justice, this
case reminded everyone
that not all violence
comes from outside —
and not every crime
needs a foreign villain.
Why This Case Matters
Beyond India
The subcontinent has,
for decades, been host
to a blame game — where
even local crimes somehow
get twisted into international
narratives. Cross-border
suspicion, particularly
between India and
Pakistan, is often the
default mode.
But this time, something
changed. There was
no diversion. Just
investigation. No political
mileage. Just facts.
This is not a triumph
of tragedy. It’s a small,
quiet victory for reason —
and a subtle lesson for
the media and the public
alike: sometimes the truth
is messy but domestic.
Symbolism vs Reality
The most jarring image?
The red sindoor — a traditional
symbol of marital bliss —
applied just weeks earlier,
now marking the start
of a cold-blooded plot.
The contrast couldn’t be
starker. And perhaps, that’s
what makes the story linger.
When traditions are
exploited for cover,
and emotions are used
as camouflage, only
reason and law can bring clarity.
A Note to the Region
South Asia must evolve
past impulsive blame
narratives. A murder in
Meghalaya doesn’t
need a cross-border
subplot. A domestic dispute
in Punjab doesn’t
require a foreign hand.
What we need is not more
suspicion — but more sincerity.
Final Word
In the end, this wasn’t
just a story of murder.
It was a test of narrative —
and, refreshingly, the facts
won. The truth emerged,
quietly, 17 days later.
And for once, no one
dragged Pakistan into it.
Let’s mark that as progress.