Chhattisgarh Journalist Murdered by Cousins Over Corruption Reporting

INIndia|

A chilling murder case has emerged in Chhattisgarh, where independent journalist Mukesh Chandrakar was killed by his cousins in retaliation for his investigative reporting on corruption linked to road construction contracts. His body was discovered in a septic tank on January 3, shortly after he was reported missing on New Year's Day.

According to the Special Investigation Team, Chandrakar, who reported for NDTV, had been last seen at his cousin's shed in Bijapur. The investigation revealed a suspicious timeline involving his cousins Ritesh, Suresh, Dinesh Chandrakar, and a contractor named Mahendra Ramteke, who allegedly conspired against him following his exposés on malpractices in government contracts.

Police investigations unearthed that Chandrakar had been lured to the shed under the pretense of sharing a meal, where he was subsequently beaten, strangled, and stabbed. His body was then hidden in a newly cemented septic tank, and his phones were destroyed and disposed of in a river to eliminate evidence.

Following leads from call records and CCTV footage, authorities arrested Suresh in Hyderabad on January 5, and Dinesh later confessed to the crime during questioning. The case underscores significant risks faced by journalists in violence-prone areas and raises concerns over press freedom in India.

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