Shillong, June 09: The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO),solemnly places this statement on record to address the deeply distressing misinformation campaign that followed the unfortunate death of Raja Raghuvanshi and the disappearance and now reappearance of Sonam Raghuvanshi.
In the same breath, COMSO also renew their constitutional, legal, and moral demand for the immediate implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Meghalaya.
The ILP is not merely a regulatory mechanism; it is a protective framework to preserve the social, cultural, and territorial sanctity of indigenous people a framework that would have pre-empted the chaos, confusion, and defamation that engulfed our state over the past few weeks.
From the moment the incident occurred in Sohra, sensationalism took precedence over truth. National media channels, motivated more by ratings than responsibility, aired unverified allegations against Meghalaya Police, questioned the administrative competence of the state, and allowed Vipul Raghuvanshi the deceased’s brother to publicly accuse Meghalaya’s institutions of apathy and conspiracy.
They projected half-truths as headlines and orchestrated a digital trial of our people, implying backwardness, danger, and systemic failure. At a time when the people of Meghalaya were grieving, organizing search teams, and supporting state authorities, the rest of the country fuelled by selective media was ridiculing and boycotting our identity.
And yet, Meghalaya responded not with rage but with resolve. The Meghalaya Police, in coordination with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)and the local residents of Sohra and surrounding villages, worked with unwavering discipline and compassion.
Despite the adverse terrain, high altitudes, forested gorges, and psychological pressure from both the media and political commentary, our teams never faltered. The search for Raja’s body was exhaustive.
The investigation continued even when certain parties prematurely called it a “murder mystery mishandled.” And eventually, the truth surfaced with Sonam’s re-appearance and arrest of other co-accused, confirming that this maybe a ‘personal crime, not a communal failing’.
In light of this, CoMSO demands a formal and unconditional apology from Vipul Raghuvanshi and Devi Singh, father of Sonam Raghuvanshi, who repeatedly undermined and publicly defamed the dignity of our institutions and casted aspersions on us all, the citizens of the State and more particularly our community.
Their actions went beyond grieving — they made calculated efforts to politicize a personal tragedy, exploit media channels, and generate anti-Meghalaya sentiments nationwide. They claimed that our police were incapable of justice and demanded a CBI inquiry without any legal basis.
They demeaned our officials, questioned our humanity, and ultimately accused an entire people. Now that thenarratives has collapsed under the weight of facts, they must publicly apologise to the Government of Meghalaya, the Meghalaya Police, the local community of Sohra, and to every citizen whose name was so casually dragged through the mud.
The Confederation also demands accountability from the national media including NDTV, Times Now, India Today, The Times of India, and others for irresponsibly carrying half-baked theories and running headline stories with no factual backing. These were not fringe outlets.
These were platforms trusted by millions. They had a responsibility to verify before they vilified. They failed. Instead of asking where Sonam went, they asked what was wrong with Meghalaya. Instead of investigating the truth, they fuelled falsehoods.
And instead of acting with neutrality, they ignited xenophobic tropes about the Northeast reducing Meghalaya to a lawless and dangerous land, despite being one of the safest, most peaceful, and constitutionally governed states in the country.
What must now be remembered is that the people of Meghalaya did not attack any outsider. There was no communal violence. There was no retribution. Our citizens cooperated with police. They provided information.
They offered shelter and supplies to search teams. The people of Sohra opened their homes, churches, and community halls to facilitate the operation. The Khasi elders invoked ancestral prayers for safety and truth.
Yet, it was our culture that was questioned. It was our youth who were labelled suspicious. This, once again, exposes the deep-rooted prejudice that mainland India holds against the tribal Northeast.
It is within this wider context that we reiterate the urgent demand for Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Meghalaya. Had ILP been operational, the movement of outsiders would have been documented, regulated, and recorded. There would be a formal mechanism of legal accountability for all entrants, especially those who come as tourists but carry ill-intent or provoke regional instability.
ILP ensures that such episodes are addressed with lawful clarity, not chaotic speculation. It provides a legal line of defense against cultural defamation and exploitation of hospitality.
The current loopholes in state guest registration and tourist monitoring systems are not just administrative oversights — they are gaps that allow our communities to be disrespected, misunderstood, and made scapegoats in times of crisis.
COMSO call on the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Shri Conrad K. Sangma, to take strong legal action under appropriate criminal and civil laws against those who defamed the state, spread communal disharmony, and obstructed lawful investigation.
The state must not allow this defamation to go unchallenged. A precedent must be set to ensure that no individual, however influential, can make Meghalaya the target of coordinated media hostility without accountability.
They also request the Government of India to issue an official clarification in Parliament or through the Ministry of Home Affairs affirming the integrity of Meghalaya’s police, the success of its investigation, and the role of the local people and NDRF in solving the case. This is not only to restore national trust but to affirm the principles of federal respect and cooperative governance.
To all the citizens of India, we extend an invitation not only to visit Meghalaya with respect, but to understand that this state is not a spectacle or stereotype. They are a constitutional people, a democratic society, and a community governed by law, ethics, and tradition. Our identity is not yours to question when things go wrong. Our hospitality is not a license for humiliation. And our peace-loving nature should not be mistaken for weakness.
Today, as the dust settles and the truth finds voice, we thank the Meghalaya Police, SDRF, NDRFand most importantly, the local communities of Sohra, Nongriat, and Sohra-Rim and everyone involved. You have carried the burden of national scrutiny with grace.
Its was proven that Meghalaya does not need to shout — it simply does its duty. To all those who accused, defamed, and humiliated us — the time has come to apologise. “Truth is our shield. Dignity is our voice. ILP is our right.” Said Mr. Roy Kupar Synrem Chairman COMSO in the Press statement.
