Mumbai: In a shocking incident, the body of 28-year-old freelance journalist Mukesh Chandrakar, who had been reported missing earlier this week, was found on Friday (January 3) in a septic tank on the property of a contractor in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh.
A murder case has been registered and several individuals, including contractor Suresh Chandrakar and his brothers, have been taken into custody for questioning.
Mukesh, known for his investigative reporting on the Maoist conflict and corruption in road construction projects in the Bastar region, was last seen on the evening of January 1. According to a Hindustan Times report, his elder brother Yukesh Chandrakar, also a journalist, had filed a missing person report the following day.
Police traced Mukesh’s location through mobile tracking, leading them to a construction site in Chattanpara Basti, where his body was found in a freshly cemented septic tank.
The site, the police have claimed, was used to house workers employed by Suresh.
In his detailed complaint to the police, Yukesh noted that Mukesh had been covering alleged irregularities in the construction of a road between Gangaloor and Nelasanar villages, which prompted an official investigation into the project. Yukesh further said that his brother had received threats from individuals linked to the project, including Suresh.
While Bijapur’s police superintendent Jitendra Yadav refrained from divulging information about the suspects or the motive behind the murder as the investigation is still in its initial stage, he confirmed that Mukesh had suffered a head injury.
According to Yukesh, accused Suresh’s brother Ritesh had called Mukesh for a meeting in the early hours of January 1. After this time, Mukesh went missing.
Mukesh, a creator of Bastar Junction, a YouTube channel with over 159,000 subscribers, had reported extensively on corruption and infrastructure issues in Bastar region. Just two weeks ago, on December 22, NDTV aired Mukesh’s investigation, revealing that a 52-km road in the area was in disrepair despite the funds spent.
Following his story, the Jagdalpur public works department had set up an investigative committee to look into the alleged irregularities.
Even as a young journalist, Mukesh was instrumental in securing the release of one Central Reserve Police Force commando Rakeshwar Singh Manhas allegedly abducted by the Naxals after an encounter in Bijapur in 2021.
Mukesh’s murder has prompted widespread condemnation, with journalists and media organisations expressing outrage over the incident. The Editors’ Guild of India called the incident “deeply disturbing”, emphasising the importance of protecting journalists, particularly those working in rural and conflict-prone areas.
“A free press must be allowed to function without fear or intimidation,” the Guild said, urging the Chhattisgarh government to ensure a swift and thorough investigation.
Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai also expressed his condolences, terming Mukesh’s death an “irreparable loss” to both journalism and society. “The murder of a journalist is an attack on truth and justice,” he posted on social media.
बीजापुर के युवा और समर्पित पत्रकार मुकेश चंद्राकर जी की हत्या का समाचार अत्यंत दु:खद और हृदयविदारक है।
मुकेश जी का जाना पत्रकारिता जगत और समाज के लिए एक अपूरणीय क्षति है।
इस घटना के अपराधी को किसी भी हाल में बख्शा नहीं जाएगा। अपराधियों को जल्द से जल्द गिरफ्तार कर कड़ी से कड़ी…
— Vishnu Deo Sai (@vishnudsai) January 3, 2025
