Nagaland: Police recover body of missing tourist in Dzukou Valley

Kohima police have recovered the body of a missing tourist identified as Pranab Das (22), son of Niranjan Das, resident of Malaynagar, Nepali Tilla, Srinagar Police Station, West Tripura district, who had been reported missing since early January 2026.
According to Kohima police PRO, Das arrived in Kohima on January 2, 2026, and checked into a homestay in Lerie Colony and was last seen leaving the homestay early on January 4, 2026.
PRO said records confirmed he purchased an entry ticket to Dzükou Valley from the Viswema entry point on the same day.
Following a missing person complaint filed at South Police Station, Kohima, on January 6, 2026 (Case No. 0005/26 U/S 140(2) BNS), PRO said police conducted a thorough investigation, including recording statements from the homestay caretaker, taxi driver, family members, and other witnesses. PRO said call detail records (CDR), customer application forms (CAF), bank accounts were analysed and nearby CCTV footage reviewed.
Further, PRO said multiple search and rescue operations were launched in coordination with the Southern Angami Youth Organization (SAYO), district administration, Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), and local volunteers. PRO added that drone-assisted searches were also undertaken covering difficult and inaccessible terrains.
Despite sustained efforts, PRO said Das could not be located during initial operations.
However, on February 6, 2026, at around 4:20 p.m., PRO said information was received about a body on the riverbank below the Dzükou Valley Helipad.
Subsequently, PRO said a joint team including Kohima police, district administration officials, SAYO members, and volunteers from neighbouring villages reached the site in the early hours of February 7, 2026, and recovered the body.
PRO said an inquest was conducted at the scene in the presence of district administration representatives and independent witnesses. Personal items recovered included a Dzükou Valley entry slip in Das’s name, two mobile handsets with mouthpieces, and a brown wallet containing cash and identification documents, confirming his identity.
PRO said the body was transported with assistance from SAYO volunteers and brought to the police station by ambulance. While family members have been informed, PRO said they have requested that no post-mortem examination be conducted until their arrival in Kohima.
PRO said the body remains at the police station morgue pending their arrival for further legal formalities.
PRO said preliminary observations at the scene and available evidence showed no indication of foul play at this stage, though a definitive cause of death awaits further procedures.
Meanwhile, Kohima police have expressed appreciation to SAYO and volunteers from neighbouring villages for their tireless efforts, local expertise, and coordination, which were crucial in locating and retrieving the body from the difficult terrain of Dzükou Valley. Police also expressed gratitude to the district administration, NSDMA, and all others involved in the extended search and recovery operations. Kohima police conveyed condolences to the bereaved family in this time of profound grief.