Hyderabad: Suresh Chandrakar Arrested in Bastar Journalist Murder by SIT

RAIPUR: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has arrested Suresh Chandrakar, the prime suspect in the murder of Bastar journalist and YouTuber Mukesh Chandrakar, from Hyderabad, police confirmed on Monday. 

Mukesh Chandrakar, 33, renowned for his investigative reporting in the insurgency-hit Bastar region, went missing on January 1. His body was found on Friday in a sealed septic tank at a contractor's property in Bijapur district. Officials observed that the tank had been recently cemented, indicating an effort to hide the crime.

Police claim that Mukesh, who had a few days back exposed a scam in road construction in Bijapur, had received an official probe into the scandal. They have reasons to believe that his killing is linked with this expose. Mukesh reportedly told a Raipur-based journalist that he would meet a local contractor before going missing. His brother, Yugesh Chandrakar, lodged a complaint after Mukesh failed to return, leading to the discovery of his body at Suresh Chandrakar's residence in Chattanpara Basti.

Bijapur SIT in-charge Mayank Gurjar revealed that three additional suspects—Ritesh Chandrakar, Dinesh Chandrakar, and Mahendra—have been detained, and investigations are ongoing. 

Expressing condolences, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai assured that the culprits would face justice. The Bastar Journalist Association condemned the killing, calling it a grave safety concern for journalists. Raipur Press Club members staged protests, and journalists in Bijapur demanded a district-wide shut down. 

Mukesh, previously lauded for facilitating the release of a CoBRA commando abducted by Maoists in 2021, was recognized for his commitment to reporting from one of India’s most challenging regions.

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