Missing Youth from M'laya Found After Mysterious Disappearance from Guwahati Zoo

In a dramatic development, a 22-year-old student from Meghalaya who went missing under mysterious circumstances from the Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden in Guwahati on Thursday has finally been traced and rescued by police.

The youth, identified as Built More Bohthmit, a resident of Hatidonga under Rongara area in South Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, had entered the zoo around 2:56 PM on Thursday. CCTV footage showed him wearing a white T-shirt, denim half-pants, a cap, and a face mask. However, there was no footage of him exiting the zoo, triggering widespread concern and a frantic overnight search operation by forest officials, zoo authorities, and police.

The incident came to light after a bag and a pair of shoes were discovered near the giraffe enclosure inside the zoo. The bag contained documents revealing the identity of the youth, along with some handwritten notes. Bohthmit had reportedly taken admission just a month ago at SPM, an educational institution in Guwahati.

Confirming the sequence of events, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) stated:
"We recovered the youth’s bag and shoes near the giraffe enclosure. Some personal documents and handwritten notes were also found. CCTV cameras captured him entering the zoo, but there was no footage of him leaving the premises."

Despite an all-night search across the zoo complex, including enclosures and water bodies, the youth remained untraceable till Friday morning. However, multiple eyewitnesses later reported spotting a youth loitering barefoot near the Hatigarh Chariali area, having crossed over the zoo wall into the adjoining Krishnanagar locality. Unfortunately, he was mistaken for a mentally unstable person by passersby and not immediately reported to the authorities.

The breakthrough came on Friday evening when Geetanagar Police located and rescued Bohthmit while he was reportedly returning to his rented accommodation near Down Town University. According to police sources, he had been roaming the Hatigarh-Ganeshguri area throughout the night and day.

Following the rescue, the youth was brought to Guwahati's Geetanagar Police Station for questioning and medical evaluation.

The incident has sparked serious questions regarding security lapses and surveillance mechanisms inside the Guwahati Zoo — a popular public attraction visited by hundreds daily. Concerns have also been raised about the absence of comprehensive perimeter security that allowed a visitor to slip out undetected.

Further investigation is underway to understand the circumstances leading to Bohthmit’s disappearance and whether it was a case of distress, misadventure, or something more complex.

Also Read: CCTV Captures Entry—But No Exit: Zoo Visit Turns into Mystery