Shillong, October 29 : A 13-year-old girl identified as Balarihun Mawblei of Nongkrem village in Eastern West Khasi Hills District has remained missing since October 21, 2026, after she reportedly fell into the Khri Synñia River along with her male cousin while attempting to cross the river. The incident has raised serious concerns among family members and village authorities, who have called for a thorough police investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the minor girl’s disappearance.
According to the account given by her cousin, the two were attempting to cross the river when they accidentally fell into the water. He claimed that he was holding Balarihun’s hand to help her cross the river but lost his grip as they struggled in the water. The cousin stated that he managed to save himself, but after emerging from the water, he could no longer see Balarihun, who has remained missing since the incident.
Recounting the events leading to the incident, he said he had planned to collect money from his father at a cattle-rearing site before proceeding to his maternal village at Nongthymmai. He claimed that Balarihun had accompanied him because she wanted to visit his maternal village.
Meanwhile, the girl’s mother expressed deep concern over her daughter’s disappearance and said she did not want her nephew to continue staying at their residence until Balarihun was found.
Nongkrem village headman Plaining Syiemlieh and village secretary Epnesstar Syiemlieh also expressed serious concern over the incident and urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation. The village authorities stated that they wanted the circumstances of the girl’s disappearance to be clearly established and called for the cousin to be questioned by police. They also expressed their opposition to the cousin continuing to reside in the village until the matter was clarified.
The headman and secretary urged the police to take the cousin into custody for questioning to determine whether the two had indeed fallen into the river, as claimed, or whether other circumstances could have contributed to the girl’s disappearance.
As of October 29, Balarihun’s whereabouts remain unknown, while her family and village authorities continue to seek answers regarding the incident. No official police findings establishing the circumstances of her disappearance have been reported.
