Sonam Raghuvanshi, Shillong
National News: It wasn’t just a journey—it was a puzzle. And now, that puzzle has been pieced together by the police. The escape of Sonam, prime accused in a sensational murder case, has taken investigators on a journey of their own. From the misty roads of Meghalaya to the dusty tracks of eastern Uttar Pradesh, every halt, every vehicle, and every possible disguise has now been unearthed. The route Sonam took from Shillong to Ghazipur wasn’t random. Police sources say she planned each leg meticulously. She didn’t take a direct train or flight. Instead, she moved in segments—shifting cities, staying low, changing vehicles, and possibly even using aliases.
Investigators now confirm she left Shillong late at night, likely in a private vehicle. CCTV footage shows a woman matching her description boarding a cab registered in Assam. Her first stop: Guwahati.
In Guwahati, Sonam reportedly stayed at a budget lodge under a fake name. Phone location data and hotel registry logs confirm a woman from Shillong checked in late and checked out early morning. From there, she may have boarded a sleeper bus to Patna—a 16-hour drive through Assam, West Bengal, and Bihar. But police believe she didn’t take the same vehicle for the entire stretch. Midway halts in Siliguri and Kishanganj show activity on her linked bank accounts. Small ATM withdrawals and mobile recharge suggest she stayed under the radar.
Once in Bihar, Sonam changed her mode of transport again. Railway officials report a ticket booked under a pseudonym from Patna to Buxar. It’s believed she took a general coach to avoid scrutiny. Eyewitnesses recall a solitary woman, covered in scarf and mask, avoiding conversations and cameras. Buxar was another temporary halt. Locals from a roadside dhaba remember a woman with a heavy backpack asking for directions to Ballia. That’s where things get more intriguing.
From Ballia, Sonam is believed to have hired an autorickshaw to reach the Ganga ghat. Here, she took a boat—yes, a boat—to cross into Ghazipur district. Local fishermen confirmed to police that a young woman, travelling alone, requested a discreet ride across the river late in the evening. It’s here, in the quiet bylanes of Ghazipur, that Sonam disappeared again—only to be traced days later hiding in a rented room under yet another false identity.
Thanks to surveillance footage, ATM activity, and phone tower triangulation, police finally cracked her route. They now have a near-complete map of her journey spanning seven cities across four states. Police say her ability to avoid detection for so long wasn’t luck—it was planning. She used cash instead of cards, bought local SIMs with fake documents, and avoided cameras wherever possible. But one mistake—logging into her Gmail from a cyber café—eventually led the cops to Ghazipur.
With her route exposed, investigators are widening the probe. Who helped her along the way? Were there accomplices in each city? And most crucially—was the escape pre-planned, or a desperate act after the murder? More arrests may follow, sources say. Police are also trying to retrieve CCTV footage from all guest houses and transport hubs she used. Already, four people suspected of aiding her are under the scanner.
Sonam’s arrest has triggered more than just a criminal investigation. It has opened questions about her network, possible funding, and the timeline of the alleged murder. The court is expected to hear arguments on the charges next week, and prosecutors are building a strong case using this escape trail as evidence of her intent to abscond. Her dramatic journey—from one of the most scenic towns in the northeast to the political heartland of Purvanchal—may just become the prosecution’s most compelling story in court.
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