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The physique of a lacking investigative journalist has been discovered on a property linked to a person he had not too long ago uncovered for alleged corruption in India, police say.
Mukesh Chandrakar, 28, a contract journalist who ran a YouTube channel known as Bastar Junction within the central Chhattisgarh state, had been lacking since New Yr’s Day.
His reporting had uncovered alleged irregularities in a £11.8m highway building venture within the Bastar area, a hotbed of Maoist insurgency, prompting a authorities investigation.
Police discovered the journalist’s final recognized assembly was with Ritesh Chandrakar, the brother of contractor Suresh Chandrakar, at one of many latter’s properties in Bijapur district.
The reporter’s brother, Yukesh Chandrakar, had filed a lacking individuals report after he couldn’t attain him on the cellphone.
“A preliminary investigation revealed that Mukesh had been lacking since 1 January. CCTV footage and cellphone monitoring led us to the placement, the place we discovered his physique inside a newly floored septic tank,” a police officer informed India At the moment. Police stated his accidents had been per a blunt-force assault.
The physique was discovered on 3 January.
Police arrested the contractor and booked him as the principle accused within the homicide of the journalist. “The principle accused of Mukesh Chandrakar’s homicide, the native contractor Suresh Chandrakar, was arrested by SIT from Hyderabad within the wee hours of Monday. Interrogation of the accused is happening,” the Bijapur police stated in a press release on Monday.
The contractor’s brothers, Ritesh and Dinesh Chandrakar, and a person recognized solely by the primary identify Ramteke had been additionally arrested.
“Our investigation revealed that Ritesh Chandrakar was associated to Mukesh and the 2 ceaselessly interacted,” Bastar police chief Sundarraj P informed a press convention.
“On 1 January at 8pm, they spoke on the cellphone earlier than each went to Suresh Chandrakar’s compound in Chattanpara for dinner. An argument ensued when Ritesh accused Mukesh of interfering with their building work,” stated Mr Sundarraj.
“Ritesh and Ramteke then attacked Mukesh with an iron rod, positioned his physique in a septic tank, and sealed it. Ritesh contacted his older brother Dinesh, together with Suresh and different members of the family. They met at Bodli village and conspired to destroy proof.”
Chhattisgarh’s chief minister, Vishnu Deo Sai, condemned the killing, calling it a “profound loss to journalism and society”. “The homicide of younger and devoted journalist Mukesh Chandrakar is heartbreaking,” he stated.
“The culprits will face the harshest punishment.”
Deputy chief minister Vijay Sharma introduced the formation of a particular investigation group to fast-track the case.
The Press Council of India and the Editors Guild of India have demanded a radical inquiry, describing the journalist’s loss of life as a matter of “grave concern”. In addition they urged the federal government to prioritise journalist security, notably for these concerned in area and investigative reporting.
Protests have been staged by native journalists in Bijapur, demanding strict motion in opposition to the perpetrators.
Mukesh Chandrakar was beforehand recognised for his function in securing the discharge of police commando Rakeshwar Singh Manhas, who had been kidnapped by Maoists militants in 2021.
Chhattisgarh, wealthy in minerals however mired by corruption and violence, stays one in all India’s most perilous areas for journalists.
India ranks 159 within the World Press Freedom Index out of 180 international locations, in line with Reporters With out Borders.
