RAIPUR: A well-known Bastar journalist, Mukesh Chandrakar, 33, who went missing on New Year’s Day, was found murdered and dumped in a septic tank on the premises of a road contractor in insurgency-hit Bijapur district on Friday.
Journalists have called a total shutdown in Bijapur to protest against the murder.
Mukesh, who worked as a contributor to several leading TV channels, including NDTV, was known for his incisive field reports from Bastar. He played a crucial role in the release of a CoBRA commando abducted by Maoists after the Tekulguda massacre of April 2021 in which 29 security personnel were killed.
Mukesh recently reported on an alleged road construction scam in Bijapur, which led authorities to investigate some contractors. It’s suspected his murder is linked to this report, police sources said.
The journalist went missing on Jan 1 after receiving a call from a local contractor. Mukesh called a journalist in Raipur to inform him about the call. He never answered calls after that. When Mukesh didn’t return home, his brother Yugesh raised an alarm and lodged a police complaint.
“His mobile location was traced to house of contractor Suresh Chandrakar at Chattanpara Basti. His body was found in a septic tank which was freshly cast with a concrete slab,” Bastar police said.
Prima facie, the contractor is the first suspect and teams are looking for him, said a cop. Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai tweeted his condolences: “News of the murder of young and dedicated journalist Mukesh Chandrakar is heart-breaking. The culprit will not be spared.”
Bastar Journalist Association president Manish Gupta called it a “dark chapter”. “A journalist being targeted is a major safety concern for all of us. It’s a challenge to work in Bastar, and a journalist’s safety is the responsibility of police, govt and society. The roots of journalism ethics have been shaken today,” he said, demanding strict action against those involved in the murder.
Raipur Press Club members gathered at Jai Stambh Chowk on Friday night and demanded action against the murderers.
