Suresh Chandrakar, the prime suspect in the murder of Bastar journalist and YouTuber Mukesh Chandrakar, was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Hyderabad.
Mukesh Chandrakar, 33, was known for his incisive field reports in Bastar. He went missing on New Year’s Day, and his body was discovered on Friday in a septic tank at the property of a road contractor in Bijapur district. Officials noted that the septic tank had recently been sealed with a concrete slab.
Mayank Gurjar, the in-charge of the Bijapur SIT, stated, “Three other suspects have also been arrested: Ritesh Chandrakar, Dinesh Chandrakar, and Mahendra. A detailed inquiry is underway.”
Mukesh, who contributed to several leading TV channels, including NDTV, was renowned for his fearless reporting in the insurgency-hit region. He had recently exposed an alleged road construction scam in Bijapur, prompting an official investigation into local contractors. Police suspect that his murder is linked to this exposé.
According to police reports, Mukesh received a call from a local contractor on January 1 and informed a journalist in Raipur about the meeting. After this, he went missing. His brother, Yugesh, filed a complaint, which led to the discovery of Mukesh’s body at Suresh Chandrakar’s residence in Chattanpara Basti.
Bastar police confirmed that Chandrakar was the prime suspect and had been evading arrest until his capture in Hyderabad.
Expressing his sorrow, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai tweeted, “The news of the murder of young and dedicated journalist Mukesh Chandrakar is heartbreaking. The culprit will not be spared.”
Manish Gupta, president of the Bastar Journalist Association, described the incident as a “dark chapter,” stating, “A journalist being targeted is a major safety concern for all of us. It’s challenging to work in Bastar, and a journalist’s safety is the responsibility of the police, government, and society. The foundations of journalism ethics have been shaken today.”
Members of the Raipur Press Club gathered at Jai Stambh Chowk on Friday night to demand swift action against the perpetrators. Meanwhile, journalists in Bijapur called for a total shutdown to protest the killing.
Mukesh Chandrakar had previously played a pivotal role in securing the release of a CoBRA commando who was abducted by Maoists following the Tekulguda massacre in April 2021, in which 29 security personnel were killed. His work highlighted the risks faced by journalists reporting from conflict zones.