Mukesh Chandrakar Murder: Accused Contractor, 2 Others Held; Congress Leader Suresh's 'Illegal' Land Bulldozed
An 11-member Special Investigation Team has been formed and all the accounts of the Congress leader Suresh Chandrakar and other accused are being sealed.
Journalist Mukesh Chandrakar Murder: Three accused have been arrested by the Bijapur police in connection with the murder of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma on Saturday said. Key accused Ritesh Chandrakar is also among those arrested for the journalist's death.
Ritesh, who is a contractor, was absconding after Mukesh went missing. He was arrested by the police and is being brought from Delhi to Bijapur for investigation. According to Sharma, Ritesh is the relative of Congress leader Suresh Chandrakar, on whose property the journalist's body was discovered in a septic tank, two days after he went missing.
Police have also arrested two other suspects Dinesh Chndrakar and an employee. Dinesh is also said to be a relative of Suresh and Ritesh Chandrakar. A report by India Today says that Ritesh was Mukesh Chandrakar's cousin.
An 11-member Special Investigation Team has been formed and all the accounts of the Congress leader Suresh Chandrakar and other accused are being sealed, Deputy CM said, adding that three bank accounts belonging to Suresh have already been put on hold today. "Police will submit chargesheet in 3-4 weeks and we will request the court for a speedy trial," Sharma informed.
#WATCH | Raipur: On the murder of Journalist Mukesh Chandrakar, Chhattisgarh Deputy CM Vijay Sharma says, "In the murder of Journalist Mukesh Chandrakar, Congress leader Suresh Chandrakar's relatives, Ritesh Chandrakar, Dinesh Chandrakar and their employee have been detained by… pic.twitter.com/VEr37IRiu2
— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2025
Mukesh Chandrakar, 28, was a journalist known for his hard-hitting investigative reports. He had recently exposed an alleged corruption in a Rs 120-crore construction project in the Bastar region, which was reportedly being handled by Suresh. It is believed that this expose prompted the state to launch an inquiry, which hit the contractor lobby in the region.
Earlier today, Bijapur administration seized and bulldozed the land illegally possessed by Congress leader Suresh Chandrakar.
#WATCH | Journalist Mukesh Chandrakar murder case | Bijapur, Chhattisgarh: Administration seizes the land illegally possessed by Congress leader Suresh Chandrakar pic.twitter.com/wFuu5J3yAN
— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2025
On January 1, Ritesh called up Mukesh for a meeting, following which his phone went offline and he went missing. Mukesh's elder brother Yukesh Chandrakar reported him missing.
Two days later, the journalist's body was found in a septic tank on a property owned by Suresh in Chhattanpara, where he was last spotted. The septic tank was freshly cast with concrete slab. Meanwhile, Suresh Chandrakar, who is the main accused, remains at large.
"Suresh Chandrakar is the main accused in the case. He is a Congress leader and office bearer of the party in Bijapur. Four police teams have been formed to nab him. The process to freeze his bank accounts and that of other accused has begun," Deputy Chief Minister said.
A resident of Basaguda village in Bijapur, Mukesh worked as a freelance journalist for various news channels. He even ran a YouTube channel 'Bastar Junction' which has 1.59 lakh subscribers.
Journalists Stage Protest
The Press Association and the Editors Guild of India on Saturday condemned the killing of the journalist and demanded that the state government conduct a thorough investigation into the case.
"The young journalist's death is a matter of grave concern as it raises suspicion of foul play. The Editors Guild calls on the government of Chhattisgarh to spare no effort in investigating the case swiftly and bringing the guilty to book," the Guild said in a statement.
Earlier today, journalists of Raipur Press Club staged a protest against the murder of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar.
#WATCH | Raipur, Chhattisgarh: Journalists under the banner of Raipur Press Club staged a protest against the murder of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar pic.twitter.com/tJx0Lrysop
— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2025
Journalists also held a symbolic road blockade at Hospital Chowk on National Highway 36 in the city, demanding that the contractor's properties in Bastar division, including Bijapur, be attached and a case be registered against him, PTI reported.
Some of the other demands include a death sentence for the contractor and others involved in the murder, removal of security detail for him, and sealing of his bank accounts.
Priyanka Gandhi Reacts
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also demanded immediate action against the culprits and that the family of the victim should be considered for job and proper compensation.
"The news of the murder of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar in Bastar, Chhattisgarh is shocking. According to reports, Mukesh was brutally murdered after he exposed corruption in his report. I demand from the state government that strict and immediate action should be taken in this case, the culprits should be given severe punishment and proper compensation and job should be considered for the family of the deceased," Priyanka Gandhi tweeted.
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