Murdered of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar. File
The key suspect in the murder of Bastar journalist and YouTuber Mukesh ChandrakarSuresh Chandrakar, was arrested by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Bijapur police of Chhattisgarh in Hyderabad on Sunday (January 5, 2025) night, police confirmed.
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.
Mukesh Chandrakar, a 33-year-old journalist, was reported missing by his brother Yugesh on New Year’s Day after informing a colleague in Raipur that he was meeting a local contractor. His body was discovered four days later in a septic tank at the premises of road contractor Mr. Suresh Chandrakar in Chattanpara Basti, Bijapur. Police found the tank freshly sealed with a concrete slab.
Three accused arrested in connection with the murder of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar are seen, in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh on January 4, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
PTI
Bastar police confirmed that Mr. Suresh Chandrakar was the prime suspect and had been on the run until his arrest in Hyderabad.
Mukesh Chandrakar, who contributed to major media outlets, had recently uncovered a road construction scam in Bijapur, prompting an official investigation into local contractors. Police suspect his murder is directly linked to his expose.
The land of contractor and main accused in the murder of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar being bulldozed, in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh. The main accused Suresh Chandrakar was taken into custody by a SIT from Hyderabad on January 6, 2025. File
| Photo Credit:
PTI
Mukesh Chandrakar had previously played a key role in securing the release of a CoBRA commando abducted by Maoists after the Tekulguda massacre in April 2021, in which 29 security personnel were killed.
Published – January 06, 2025 09:41 am IST
