Police have detained three suspects in connection with the alleged murder of a journalist in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur city who was found dead in a septic tank on a local contractor's property on Friday.
The deceased journalist was later identified as 33-year-old Mukesh Chandrakar. Mukesh went missing on Wednesday, January 1, and was found dead two days later.
According to PTI, he worked as a freelance journalist for news channels and also ran a YouTube channel called 'Bastar Junction'.
In view of the development, some local journalists mentioned that Mukesh had done some stories on irregularities in road construction works in the area. However, how and why Mukesh was killed is yet to be ascertained. The autopsy report is awaited.
Police told PTI that Mukesh's elder brother Yukesh Chandrakar lodged a complaint with the police a day after Mukesh went missing.
Police then tracked Mukesh's mobile number and reached the property owned by contractor Suresh Chandrakar at Chattanpara Basti in Bijapur town and found the body following which a murder case was registered.
Reacting to the incident, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said the culprits will be arrested at the earliest.
"The news of the murder of Bijapur's young and dedicated journalist Mukesh Chandrakar ji is very sad and heartbreaking. Mukesh ji's demise is an irreparable loss for journalism and society," Sai wrote on X.
"The culprit will not be spared under any circumstances. I have given instructions to arrest the criminals as soon as possible and ensure the harshest punishment for them," the CM added.
