26-year-old youth from Mawlai Nongkwar Block-1, Shillong, was found dead in a railway station toilet in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, shortly after securing a job in the hospitality sector. The deceased, identified as Jonathan Rynjah, had travelled to Kerala in search of work and was discovered on Friday, leaving his family devastated. His parents were informed of the tragedy by the Kerala police but now face the difficult challenge of bringing their son’s body home due to financial constraints.
The family has appealed to authorities and the state government for urgent support in repatriating the remains. Jonathan’s father, Rakesh Shabong, said communication barriers with the Kerala police had left the family uncertain about the exact circumstances of their son’s death. He recalled that Jonathan had previously worked in Kerala but was forced to return to Shillong during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Jonathan left for Kerala on 26 August after securing employment in Thiruvananthapuram through the help of a former colleague. His last contact with the family was a call on 27 August, when he informed his father he had boarded a train from Guwahati. Since then, the family had been unable to reach him despite repeated attempts.