Shillong: In a major breakthrough, police in Shillong have arrested a 32-year-old man, Kenedy Khongsit, in connection with the murder of 7-year-old Kyrshanbor Kharmudai, whose body was recovered from Mawpat jungle in October last year.
Addressing the media, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said that after nearly six months of sustained investigation, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was able to identify and arrest the accused by piecing together crucial forensic and circumstantial evidence.
“After a period of six months, the SIT, by piecing all available evidence together including inputs from CFSL Guwahati, zeroed in on the accused, Kenedy Khongsit, who is a neighbour of the deceased,” Syiem said.
The accused was arrested on Wednesday afternoon and has reportedly confessed to the crime. Police said he will be produced before court, and custody will be sought to complete further investigation.
According to the police, the incident occurred on October 8, 2025, between 2:30 pm and 3 pm at the accused’s residence, located adjacent to the victim’s home. The child had reportedly gone there after lunch to watch television.
During interrogation, the accused revealed that he asked the boy to assist him with cleaning a Syntex water tank by bringing a brush and bucket. However, when the child ignored his instructions and continued watching TV, the accused flew into a rage.
“In a fit of anger, he forcefully smothered the child and later placed the body inside the Syntex tank,” the SP stated.
Police further revealed that the accused later disposed of the body by transporting it to Mawpat jungle using a white Yamaha R-Z scooty belonging to his cousin. He had initially hidden the body in his backyard, packed it in plastic sacks, and left Lum Myrboh around 4:40 pm, returning within an hour.
Investigators said the case was particularly challenging due to the absence of an apparent motive, ransom demand, or sexual assault, making it difficult to establish leads in the early stages.
“Many individuals were questioned, but there was no clear breakthrough initially due to lack of evidence. The motive was also unclear, which made the case difficult to crack,” Syiem explained.
The breakthrough came after forensic analysis linked materials found on the victim’s body to the accused’s residence. Despite heavy rainfall on the day of the incident, investigators were able to establish critical connections through scientific evidence.
“There is substantial scientific evidence. When all pieces were put together, it led us to the accused,” Syiem added.
Police also disclosed that the accused has a history of violent behavior. “He is mentally stable but has a history of violence and frequent fits of rage,” the SP said, noting past incidents involving domestic abuse.
Authorities are now planning to reconstruct the crime scene to better understand the sequence of events. Police will seek maximum custody of the accused to carry out further investigation.
The case has shocked residents across the city, highlighting concerns over child safety and violence within communities.