A journalist murdered after exposing corruption in road works

Incidents in Naxal-affected Bastar (Chhattisgarh)
Authorities have arrested 3 suspects.
Local administration has demolished illegal constructions linked to the accused

Bastar (Chhattisgarh) – Mukesh Chandrakar, a renowned journalist aged 33, went missing on January 1st. Tragically, his body was found on January 3rd in a drain at the construction site of the very road where he had recently exposed corruption.The police have arrested 3 suspects in connection with the murder: Dinesh, Ritesh Chandrakar, and Mahendra Ramteke. Shockingly, 2 of the accused are Chandrakar’s cousins. Another relative, Suresh Chandravanshi, has also been named as an accused but remains absconding.In a decisive move, the local administration has demolished the illegal constructions linked to the accused, signalling a zero-tolerance stance against corruption and criminal activities.

Journalist murdered after exposing corruption in road construction project in Chattisgarh’s Naxal-affected Bastar! ⚡

3 accused arrested; illegal constructions of the accused demolished by authorities.#Bastar #Naxal pic.twitter.com/V7V48TWdOm

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) January 5, 2025

1. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai expressed his sorrow over the incident in a post on X.

2. The Chief Minister vowed that the accused would not be spared, stating, “I have instructed authorities to ensure the immediate arrest of the accused and to take strict action against them.”

3. Mukesh Chandrakar was a respected journalist who had worked with various news channels and ran his own YouTube channel, Bastar Junction. Known for his fearless reporting, Chandrakar extensively covered Naxalite-affected areas like Bastar.

4. In April 2021, Chandrakar played a pivotal role in the rescue of Cobra commandos kidnapped by Naxalites, further cementing his reputation as a courageous journalist dedicated to his work.