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Journalist's murder highlights risks of reporting in small-town India

Posted by Kanthala Raghu on
Mukesh Chandrakar, 32, went missing on New Year's Day and his family registered a complaint with the police. Mukesh turned into one of the reporters who went into the jungles of bastar and helped rescue CPRF squaddies from naxalites, years ago.

The corruption was done by showing a road worth 52 crores as 102 crores. Mukesh's close relatives were also involved in this corruption. This prompted the BJP-led-government in the State to act against the contractor.

During the autopsy of Mukesh Chandrakar, they located five damaged ribs, 15 head fractures, coronary heart ripped out, neck damaged and four portions of liver. The docs conceded that that they'd never seen such brutality in their 12-yr careers. They informed that more than 2 people must have been involved in the gruesome murder. Mukesh’s body was recovered from a septic tank, which was located on the premises of Suresh Chandrakar.

Three people have been arrested so far over Chandrakar’s death and another of the main suspects, Suresh Chandrakar, who owned the construction compound where Chandrakar’s body was found, is still on the run, police have said.

Attacks on journalists reporting on corruption or environmental degradation are not uncommon in India. Bastar police confirmed that Mr. Suresh Chandrakar was the prime suspect and had been on the run until his arrest in Hyderabad.

A senior officer from the Bastar police said that Suresh’s siblings, Ritesh Chandrakar, Dinesh Chandrakar, and one Mahendra were arrested earlier on Saturday (January 4, 2025). “Ritesh was arrested in Raipur, while Dinesh and Mahendra were detained in Bijapur,” said the officer, adding that further searches are being carried out in Hyderabad. “We cannot reveal further details on the arrest yet as it might alert others associated with the case,” added the officer. After the murder, the Bijapur administration took swift action and razed some illegal constructions owned by Suresh Chandrakar. Three of his bank accounts were also seized. Govt land illegally seized by the politically influential contractor was also sealed and taken back by the administration.

Attacks on journalists reporting on corruption or environmental degradation are not uncommon in India.

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