The body of Chhattisgarh journalist Mukesh Chandrakar was recovered by the police from the septic tank in Bijapur district on Friday. The 28-year old journalist was reportedly missing since January 1. His phone was also not reachable. The police sprung into action after his elder brother Yukesh Chandrakar filed a missing complaint and has arrested three people in connection with the case.
Mukesh Chandrakar’s body was found by the police in a septic tank built on a property belonging to a contractor named Suresh Chandrakar. The journalist had recently reported on an alleged road construction scam in Bijapur which had led to an investigation by authorities against some contractors. According to his elder brother, Mukesh was receiving threats from three individuals including contractor Suresh Chandrakar.
A murder case has been filed by the police and the suspects are being interrogated. “the victim’s brother informed us yesterday that Mukesh has been missing since January 1. We initiated action, scanned CCTV footage, and also found his last location. We found Mukesh’s dead body inside a tank in the evening today”, said the police.
Who was Mukesh Chandrakar?
Mukesh Chandrakar was a well-known journalist in Chhattisgarh. He had helped in securing the release of a CoBRA commando abducted by Maoists in 2021.
Expressing grief over the death of Mukesh Chandrakar, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai assured that the culmprits will not be spared.
बीजापुर के युवा और समर्पित पत्रकार मुकेश चंद्राकर जी की हत्या का समाचार अत्यंत दु:खद और हृदयविदारक है।
— Vishnu Deo Sai (@vishnudsai) January 3, 2025
मुकेश जी का जाना पत्रकारिता जगत और समाज के लिए एक अपूरणीय क्षति है।
इस घटना के अपराधी को किसी भी हाल में बख्शा नहीं जाएगा। अपराधियों को जल्द से जल्द गिरफ्तार कर कड़ी से कड़ी…
The tragic news of the murder of Mukesh Chandrakar, a young and committed journalist from Bijapur, is deeply saddening and heartbreaking. Sai tweeted, “The perpetrator will not be spared under any circumstances. I have directed authorities to arrest the culprits promptly and ensure they receive the harshest punishment.”
According to sources, Bastar’s contractor lobby has a notorious reputation for leveraging influence and alleged bribes to obtain government contracts, often resorting to threats or violence to silence dissenting voices. Journalists reporting on corruption in the region frequently encounter harassment and intimidation.
