A 32-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a seven-year-old boy in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district, bringing a breakthrough in a case that had remained unsolved for nearly six months, police said on Wednesday, April 1. The child, an orphan, was reported missing from his residence at Lum Marboh in Nongrah, under the jurisdiction of Rynjah police station, at around 4 pm on October 8 last year. His disappearance triggered a large-scale search involving both police personnel and local residents.
The following morning, the boy’s body was discovered by the roadside at Matngen in Mawpat and was later identified by relatives. A case was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and an investigation was launched. A post-mortem conducted at NEIGRIHMS confirmed that the cause of death was asphyxia due to smothering.
Given the seriousness of the crime, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed on 9 October 2025 under the supervision of senior police officials. Despite questioning several individuals and sending forensic samples to laboratories in Guwahati and Shillong, investigators initially struggled to establish a clear motive or identify a suspect. Police said sustained efforts and fresh leads eventually pointed to the accused, identified as Kenedy Khongsit, a neighbour of the victim.