Main Accused of Chhattisgarh journalist Mukesh Chandrakar Murder Arrested from Hyderabad, Know Entire Incident

Chhattisgarh : Cyber ​​police and SIT of Bijapur arrested contractor Suresh Chandrakar from Hyderabad late on Sunday night, the main accused in the murder of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar. Three accused have already been arrested, whose names are Ritesh Chandrakar, Dinesh Chandrakar and Mahendra Ramteke. The arrest has been confirmed by Bastar IG Sundarraj P.

The main accused Suresh Chandrakar was hiding at his driver's home in Hyderabad. The police searched 200 CCTV cameras and traced about 300 mobile numbers to reach him. Only then the main accused Suresh Chandrakar could be arrested.

What was the whole incident?

Journalist Mukesh Chandrakar went missing on the evening of January 1, New Year's Day. His brother Yukesh Chandrakar first tried to trace his brother on his own level. Then he posted information about brother Mukesh's disappearance on January 1 through social media. This post of Yukesh created a stir because Mukesh had disappeared from a Naxal-affected area like Bijapur. Yukesh also informed the Bijapur police about this. After which the police started searching for Mukesh Chandrakar.

Based on the last location of Mukesh's mobile number, the journalist's body was found in a septic tank from the premises of contractor Suresh Chandrakar on Friday, January 3, 2025. At around 5 pm, Mukesh's body was taken out by digging the tank with a JCB. After the journalist's murder, the body was put in the tank and plastered from above.

Journalist Mukesh Chandrakar had exposed corruption in the road built by accused contractor Suresh Chandrakar. This case is being considered the main basis for the journalist's murder. Police investigation revealed that contractor Suresh Chandrakar is the main accused in the murder and he, along with his brother Ritesh Chandrakar and supervisor Mahendra Ramteke, killed journalist Mukesh Chandrakar on January 1, 2025 and hid the dead body in the septic tank.

On January 4, the police arrested Ritesh Chandrakar, supervisor Mahendra Ramteke and Dinesh Chandrakar for tampering with evidence. The local people and journalists were outraged by the incident. Meanwhile, the opposition also started to dominate the government over corruption in the road. After mounting pressure over the journalist's murder, the government formed an SIT. CM Vishnudev Sai condemned the incident and said that the accused should be arrested as soon as possible and justice should be provided to Mukesh Chandrakar and his family.

This is the first time a journalist has been killed in Chhattisgarh. After this incident, the journalists of the state are outraged. Journalists protested across the state alleging suppression of the power of the pen. Rallies were taken out at many places. Members of the Raipur Press Club reached to submit a memorandum to the Governor regarding the safety of journalists. But they were stopped outside. After which the journalists sat on a dharna in front of Gate No. 3. Journalists in Raipur, Durg, Bhilai, Bijapur, Korba, Bastar paid tribute to Mukesh Chandrakar by lighting candles.

According to the postmortem report of Mukesh Chandrakar, the killers not only injured his internal body parts but also broke them into pieces. 15 fractures were found on Mukesh's head. The killers attacked Mukesh in such a way that his liver was also split into four pieces. Due to the continuous attacks of the killers, 5 ribs of Mukesh's body are also broken. Not only this, Mukesh's neck was also broken and one of Mukesh's collar bones was also found broken. Along with this, Mukesh's heart also burst in this attack. 

The murder was done in such a heinous manner that even the hands of the doctors who did Mukesh's postmortem trembled. There was no part of Mukesh's body left where the killers had not caused injury. The doctors say that they have not seen such a bad situation in their career. Mukesh's body's postmortem was done by Dr. Rajendra Roy and two other doctors. The doctors also told that there is a mark of injury on the wrist of Mukesh's left hand. Possibly, he must have put his left hand forward for protection and this is what must have caused him injury. 

The doctors who conducted the post-mortem clearly say that it is not possible for only two people to inflict so many injuries. Looking at the injuries, it is being estimated that the number of killers is much more. 

सिस्टम की भेंट चढ़ गया एक युवा पत्रकार!#MukeshChandrakar pic.twitter.com/tDsZSL0rfe

— Sadaf Afreen صدف (@s_afreen7) January 4, 2025

Young journalist Mukesh Chandrakar used to work as a freelancer for many news channels. Mukesh was also the founder and operator of YouTube channel 'Bastar Junction'. This channel had more than one and a half lakh subscribers. Mukesh Chandrakar first came into the limelight when he played an important role in freeing Cobra Commando Rakeshwar Singh Manhas from the captivity of Naxalites after the Takalguda Naxalite attack in Bijapur in April 2021. After this incident, the then CM Bhupesh Baghel met Mukesh Chandrakar and the entire mediation team. 

Amidst the questions being raised about the safety of journalists in Chhattisgarh, the Chief Minister of the state Vishnu Deo Sai has given a statement that his government is going to bring a journalist protection law soon.