Days After Report On Corruption, Chhattisgarh Journalist’s Body Found In Septic Tank

Raipur: The body of a 28-year-old television journalist was found in a septic tank on the premises of a contractor he had recently exposed for corruption.

Mukesh Chandrakar, who worked with a local news channel in Chhattisgarh, had been missing since the night of January 1. He was found dead on January 3 in Bijapur district.

Mukesh, who also operated a YouTube channel, recently exposed contractor Suresh Chandrakar for alleged irregularities in a Rs 120-crore road construction project in Bastar. The state government initiated an inquiry into the contractor’s activities following the expose.

Mukesh’s elder brother Yukesh Chandrakar filed a missing person report after the former’s phone was found to be switched off following a meeting arranged by the contractor’s brother, Ritesh, at one of the contractor’s properties.

Three persons arrested

Chhattisgarh Police on Saturday arrested three persons in connection with the journalist’s murder.

A special team was constituted to locate the missing journalist, IG Bastar P Sundarraj said.

Mukesh’s last mobile location was traced to the residence of the contractor, in Chattanpara Basti. Police spotted a septic tank which had recently been sealed with fresh concrete.

Police got suspicious, and broke open the tank and discovered Mukesh’s body lying inside the tank. There were multiple injury marks on his head and back.

Superintendent of Police Jitendra Yadav said that a number of individuals, including Suresh Chandrakar, were being interrogated as the body was discovered on his premises. Authorities are also probing if the journalist’s death is connected to his reporting.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai assured said that the accused won’t be spared.

“The loss of Mukesh Ji is an irreparable loss to the field of journalism and society. The culprits of this incident will not be spared under any circumstances. We have instructed the authorities to arrest the accused at the earliest and ensure the strictest punishment,” Sai said.

Political blame game starts

A political war of words broke out over the journalist’s killing, with the ruling BJP and Congress pointing fingers at each other.

Condemning the incident, Chhattisgarh Congress president Deepak Baij said that the fourth pillar of democracy is now being targeted because of crumbling law and order situation in the state.

“Journalists are paying the price for their impartial reporting with their lives,” Baij said.

BJP alleged that the ‘exposed’ contractor was a close aide of the state Congress president.

Posting pictures of Baij with Chandrakar, Chhattisgarh unit of the party wrote, “It was Deepak Baij who honoured Suresh with the post of State Secretary of SC Morcha of Congress Party. Various kinds of criminal goods are being sold from the so-called ‘Mohabbat ki dukaan’ (shop of love) of Congress — after-all, all the salesmen are criminals.”

Editors Guild demands safety of journalists

The Editors Guild of India urged authorities across the country to ensure safety of journalists, especially those working in smaller towns and rural areas.

“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 efforts in investigating the case speedily and bringing the guilty to book,” the Guild said in a statement.

“A free press that is allowed to work without fear is important for any democracy. While the Editors Guild grieves Mr Chandrakar’s death, it hopes that his passing under unnatural circumstances will serve as a wake-up call and prompt better measures for journalists’ protection,” it added.