Key Suspect in Murder of Chhattisgarh Journalist Apprehended
In a significant development, police apprehended the prime suspect in the murder of Chhattisgarh journalist Mukesh Chandrakar on Sunday night. Suresh Chandrakar, a contractor and distant relative of the victim, was arrested in Hyderabad after being on the run since the crime came to light. Mukesh’s body was discovered last week in a septic tank near his residence in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar division.
#WATCH | Prime accused of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar’s murder case, Suresh Chandrakar, who was absconding after the crime, has been detained. The accused was detained from Hyderabad late last night by the SIT and he is being questioned
In Bijapur, SIT in-charge, Mayank Gurjar… pic.twitter.com/f4hCz9Wb7D
— ANI (@ANI) January 6, 2025
According to the police, Suresh had been hiding at his driver’s residence in Hyderabad. A meticulous investigation involving the review of 200 CCTV recordings and the tracing of 300 mobile numbers led to his capture. Officials are now interrogating him to unravel further details about the crime.
#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
Family Connections
Suresh Chandrakar’s wife has also been detained in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district and is under interrogation. Additionally, police have frozen four of Suresh’s bank accounts and demolished an illegally constructed yard owned by him.
The victim, Mukesh Chandrakar, an independent journalist and contributor for NDTV, went missing on New Year’s Day. When he failed to return home, his brother filed a missing person report the following day. Investigators eventually discovered his body in a contractor’s shed near his home.
Gruesome Details
Post-mortem findings revealed that Mukesh had suffered severe injuries to his head, chest, back, and stomach, inflicted by a heavy object. His body was identified by a distinctive tattoo on his hand. Investigations suggest that an argument during a dinner escalated into violence, leading to his murder.
Police arrested three individuals, including Ritesh Chandrakar, Mukesh’s cousin, from Raipur airport. Two others, supervisor Mahendra Ramteke and another relative, Dinesh Chandrakar, were taken into custody from Bijapur. Preliminary investigations revealed that Ritesh and Mahendra attacked Mukesh with an iron rod, killing him on the spot. They then concealed the body in a septic tank, sealing it with cement, and disposed of the murder weapon and Mukesh’s phone.
Condemnation
The murder has sparked outrage across the journalist community. Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma described the incident as “terrible and painful,” promising stringent action against the perpetrators.
The Editors Guild of India and the Press Association have condemned the murder, highlighting the dangers faced by journalists, especially those involved in investigative reporting in smaller towns and rural areas. The Guild urged the Chhattisgarh government to conduct a swift and thorough investigation, emphasizing the need for greater protections for journalists.
The Press Association echoed these sentiments, calling for robust safeguards to ensure journalists can work without fear of retaliation.
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