New Delhi:
Three folks, together with two kinfolk, have been arrested for the homicide of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar, whose physique was present in a septic tank in a shed owned by a contractor in Chattisgarh’s Bastar division on Friday.
Chandrakar, an unbiased journalist who was additionally a contributing reporter for NDTV, was final seen leaving his house in Bijapur’s Pujari Para on New Year’s Day and his brother, Yukesh, had filed a lacking grievance the subsequent day. After starting an investigation, police discovered the 32-year-old’s physique in Chhatan Para Basti, not very removed from his house.
Ritesh Chandrakar, Mukesh’s cousin, was arrested from Raipur airport on Saturday whereas Mahendra Ramteke, a supervisor, and Dinesh Chandrakar, one other relative of Mukesh, have been taken into custody from Bijapur. Contractor Suresh Chandrakar, the alleged mastermind behind the homicide, is on the run.
Spur Of The Moment Or Pre-Planned?
Police mentioned Chandrakar had dinner along with his cousin Ritesh and Mahendra Ramteke in Suresh’s shed and an argument broke out between them. Ritesh and Mahendra allegedly attacked Chandrakar with an iron rod, killing him on the spot, after which hid his physique in a septic tank, sealing it with cement to hide the crime. They additionally disposed of Mukesh’s cellphone and the weapon used within the homicide.
Dinesh, the opposite relative who was arrested, allegedly supervised the cementing of the tank.
A autopsy report revealed that Chandrakar had been attacked with a tough object, struggling extreme accidents to his head, chest, again, and abdomen. His physique was recognized by way of a tattoo on his hand.
Officials mentioned the character of the accidents and the cementing of the tank point out that the crime was premeditated.
Investigation
Four police groups are tracing the contractor, Suresh Chandrakar, and Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P has constituted an 11-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to leverage scientific and technical proof and construct a watertight case. Four financial institution accounts linked to Suresh have been frozen and an illegally constructed yard owned by him has been demolished.
“The SIT will guarantee a radical investigation, and we’ll prosecute the accused promptly,” Inspector General Sundarraj mentioned.
‘Painful’
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who additionally holds the Home portfolio, has termed Mukesh Chandrakar’s homicide “horrible, painful, and completely improper”.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, he mentioned a sequence of robust and swift actions are being taken to make sure justice is finished.
The Editors Guild of India mentioned the journalist’s “suspected homicide” was disturbing and emphasised that he had lately “reported on an alleged street development rip-off that prompted native authorities to research some contractors”.
“The younger journalist’s dying is a matter of grave concern because it raises suspicion of foul play. The Editors Guild calls on the federal government of Chhattisgarh to spare no efforts in investigating the case speedily and bringing the responsible to e book. The security of journalists – particularly these working in smaller cities and rural areas – is of paramount significance, and the Editors Guild calls for that authorities throughout the nation should do their greatest to make sure that no hurt or hindrance is prompted to any of them in discharging their skilled duties,” the Guild mentioned in an announcement.