Shillong: In a sharply worded statement issued on Sunday, the Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO) condemned the “misinformation campaign” surrounding the death of Raja Raghuvanshi and the disappearance — and eventual reappearance — of Sonam Raghuvanshi. The group also renewed its call for the immediate implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in the state, calling it a “constitutional, legal, and moral demand.”
“The ILP is not merely a regulatory mechanism; it is a protective framework to preserve the social, cultural, and territorial sanctity of indigenous people,” CoMSO said. “It is a framework that would have pre-empted the chaos, confusion, and defamation that engulfed our state over the past few weeks.”
CoMSO accused several national news outlets — including NDTV, India Today, Times Now, and The Times of India — of pushing “sensationalism over truth” and conducting a “digital trial” of the people of Meghalaya in the wake of the tragic incident in Sohra.
“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,” the statement said.
The organisation expressed deep dismay at how “half-truths were projected as headlines,” portraying Meghalaya as “backward, dangerous, and systemically failed.”
And yet, the statement added, “Meghalaya responded not with rage but with resolve.” CoMSO highlighted the coordinated efforts of the Meghalaya Police, SDRF, NDRF, and local communities who worked under “adverse terrain, high altitudes, forested gorges, and psychological pressure from both the media and political commentary” to investigate the case and search for Raja’s body.
CoMSO argued that with the reappearance of Sonam Raghuvanshi and arrests of other co-accused, “the truth surfaced,” and it is now clear that this was “maybe a ‘personal crime, not a communal failing.’”
The organisation demanded a public apology from Vipul Raghuvanshi and Sonam’s father, Devi Singh, accusing them of launching a “calculated” campaign to politicize the case and stir anti-Meghalaya sentiment nationwide. “Their actions went beyond grieving — they exploited media channels and accused an entire people.”
CoMSO stated that both men “demeaned our officials, questioned our humanity, and ultimately accused an entire people.” Now that the narrative has “collapsed under the weight of facts,” the group insists that they apologise to “the Government of Meghalaya, the Meghalaya Police, the local community of Sohra, and every citizen whose name was so casually dragged through the mud.”
In a scathing rebuke of the national media, CoMSO called for accountability. “They had a responsibility to verify before they vilified. They failed,” the statement declared. “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.”
The statement strongly emphasised that there was no communal backlash from the people of Meghalaya. “There was no retribution. Our citizens cooperated with police… 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.”
The real issue, CoMSO argued, was the national bias against tribal Northeast communities. “This, once again, exposes the deep-rooted prejudice that mainland India holds against the tribal Northeast.”
Against this backdrop, CoMSO reiterated its demand for the ILP. “Had ILP been operational, the movement of outsiders would have been documented, regulated, and recorded. ILP ensures that such episodes are addressed with lawful clarity, not chaotic speculation.”
The organisation also urged Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to take “strong legal action under appropriate criminal and civil laws” against those who defamed the state and obstructed the investigation.
Finally, CoMSO called on the Government of India to issue an official statement — either in Parliament or through the Ministry of Home Affairs — affirming the integrity of Meghalaya’s law enforcement and local people. “This is not only to restore national trust but to affirm the principles of federal respect and cooperative governance.”
The statement concluded with a note to all Indians: “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.”
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