Body of missing Tripura tourist found in Dzukou Valley

Dimapur: The body of a tourist from Tripura who went missing in Dzukou Valley of Kohima district on January 4 has been recovered.Kohima police on Saturday confirmed the recovery of Pranab Das (22), son of Niranjan Das of Malaynagar, Nepali Tilla, under Srinagar district of Tripura.According to a release from the Kohima police PRO, information was received at around 4:20pm on Friday about the presence of a body on the riverbank below the Dzukou Valley helipad.A team comprising Kohima police, district administration, the Southern Angami Youth Organisation (SAYO), and volunteers from nearby villages reached the location early Saturday and recovered the body.During an investigation at the site, in the presence of district officials and independent witnesses, personal belongings were found, including a Dzukou Valley entry slip in Das’s name, two mobile phones with mouthpieces, a brown wallet containing cash, and identification documents.The body was shifted with the assistance of SAYO volunteers and later brought to the South Police Station. Family members were informed and requested that no post-mortem be conducted until their arrival in Kohima. The body is currently kept at the police station morgue, awaiting further legal formalities.Police said it is too early to determine the cause of death. Preliminary observations and available evidence suggest no foul play at present.

The case was registered at South Police Station on Jan 6 regarding Das’s disappearance. Investigations established that he checked into a homestay at Lerie Colony, Kohima, on Jan 2 and was last seen leaving the premises early on Jan 4. He had booked an entry ticket to Dzukou Valley from the Viswema entry point the same day.Statements from the homestay caretaker, taxi driver, family members, and other witnesses were recorded.

Technical analysis — including call detail records, customer application forms, bank account verification, and CCTV footage examination — was also conducted.Kohima police, in coordination with SAYO, the district administration, and the Nagaland state disaster management authority, carried out multiple search and rescue operations in Dzukou Valley. Drone-assisted searches were also undertaken across difficult terrains, but earlier efforts failed to trace the missing tourist.