In a resounding expression of collective grief and unity, citizens from across Shillong gathered at Police Bazar on Monday and Khyndailad on Tuesday in a series of silent demonstrations led by the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC), Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO), and other concerned citizens, to condemn the brutal murder of Indore tourist Raja Raghuvanshi and the subsequent vilification of Meghalaya’s image as a peaceful tourist destination.
The sit-in protests, spearheaded by HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem, HITO president Donbok Dkhar, and called by senior citizen Mary Victoria Marwein of Lawsohtun, were marked by silence, solemn placards, and powerful messages demanding justice for the people of Meghalaya, who have been unjustly defamed in the aftermath of the tragedy in which a Tourist from Indore was killed.
One placard read: “We, the people of Meghalaya, express our sadness and strong condemnation over the defamation of our state, especially our community, by outsiders regarding the recent incident involving the death of a tourist.”
Another boldly stated: “To all those who accused, defamed, and humiliated us – the time has come to apologise.” – HYC
Mary Victoria Marwein voiced the shared concern of many, saying, “We are here to protest against the attempt to defame our state and the people. As mothers, we are concerned that the negative narratives will affect our children and loved ones, who are working and studying outside the state.” She urged the government and police to take strict action against those defaming Meghalaya and demanded a public apology from the family of the accused and others involved in spreading misinformation.
The breakthrough in the murder case — revealing that the crime was committed by outsiders posing as tourists who quickly fled the state — has reignited calls for the urgent implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Meghalaya. “This incident is unfortunate and should not define our state. There have been several instances in the recent past where individuals from outside committed crimes and fled Meghalaya,” said HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem. “Had ILP been in place, there would have been a system where every visitor’s details — name, stay duration, and location — would be recorded. This alone would act as a strong deterrent against those with criminal intent,” he added
Synrem emphasized, “In light of the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi at Sohra and after yesterday’s breakthrough, we know now that people from outside the state are responsible. Not only this incident, but cases like the ATM robbery at Mawkriah also show a pattern — outsiders come, commit crimes, and flee. ILP is necessary to help the police track and deter such movements effectively.”
He further added,“Had ILP been in place, there would have been a system where details of every visitor and everyone entering the state, their names will be recorded. Where they are staying and for how many days and whether these persons have left or still extending their stay in the state – all such records will be there,” he said adding “If a person enters the state and has to entered his name in the records of the state it will create a deterrence in his mind or in those people’s mind that my name has been recorded and that police know they have entered Meghalaya so it will create that deterrent effect and before committing a crime that person will think a hundred times.”
“That is why we are demanding that ILP should be implemented in Meghalaya, a system where the regulation on the movement of people should be there because as of now any person can come enters the state of Meghalaya commit a crime and then run away to other states so it creates a problem for police to track the movement of these people,” he further added.
