A day after the police discovered the body of 32-year-old journalist Mukesh Chandrakar in a septic tank in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, three people have been arrested, with the district authorities also bulldozing what they claim is an “illegal property” belonging to the main suspect in the case.
Confirming the development, a senior official from Chhattisgarh government told The Indian Express, “In the aftermath of the brutal murder of young journalist Mukesh Chandrakar, Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai has taken a tough stance, sending a strong message against crime and criminals in the state. Following the CM’s directives, the administration swiftly demolished the house of the main accused using a bulldozer”.
Home Minister Vijay Sharma in a press conference on Saturday alleged the main accused in the case, Suresh Chandrakar, is a Congress leader. Sharma said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted in the case and the case will be fast tracked in court.
Chandrakar’s body was found Friday in a septic tank in Bijapur’s Chhatanpara Basti. The tank is believed to be located close to the residence of the main accused. Chandrakar was a freelancer who had worked with media houses such as NDTV and News 18 in the past and also had his own YouTube channel, ‘Bastar Junction’, with 1.59 lakh subscribers.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai called Chandrakar’s killing “extremely sad and heartbreaking”.
“Mukesh ji’s demise is an irreparable loss for the journalism world and society. The culprit will not be spared under any circumstances. We have given instructions to arrest the criminals as soon as possible and give them the harshest punishment. I pray to God to give peace to the departed soul at His feet and provide strength to the bereaved family in this hour of grief,” he wrote on X.
Anurag Dwary, Resident Editor, NDTV said: “As a journalist, my colleague paid the ultimate price for exposing the truth. It’s a stark reminder of the risks journalists take daily in pursuit of accountability. We stand in solidarity with his family, and we demand a swift and impartial investigation to bring those responsible to justice. His sacrifice will not be in vain, and we will continue his fight for transparency and justice.”
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