The principal accused within the homicide of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar, whose physique was present in a septic tank in Chattisgarh final week, has been arrested from Hyderabad on Sunday night time. Suresh Chandrakar, a distant relative and a contractor, is believed to be the alleged mastermind behind the homicide. He was on the run for the reason that incident got here to gentle.
According to the police, Suresh was hiding at his driver’s residence in Hyderabad. To monitor him, the police reviewed footage from 200 CCTVs and traced practically 300 cell numbers.
The police are at present interrogating Chandrakar, officers mentioned.
Earlier, 4 financial institution accounts linked to Suresh had been frozen and an illegally constructed yard owned by him was demolished.
Chandrakar’s spouse has additionally been taken into custody in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district and is being interrogated, officers added.
Chandrakar’s physique was present in a septic tank in a shed owned by a contractor in Chattisgarh’s Bastar division final week. The unbiased journalist, who was additionally a contributing reporter for NDTV, was final seen leaving his dwelling in Bijapur’s Pujari Para on New Year’s Day. When he didn’t return, the journalist’s brother, Yukesh, 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 dwelling.
According to a autopsy report, Chandrakar was attacked with a tough object and suffered extreme accidents to his head, chest, again, and abdomen. His physique was recognized by way of a tattoo on his hand.
Three folks, together with two of Chandrakar’s relations, have additionally been arrested within the case. While his cousin, Ritesh Chandrakar, was arrested from Raipur airport on Saturday, Mahendra Ramteke, a supervisor, and Dinesh Chandrakar, one other relative of the sufferer, had been taken into custody from Bijapur.
How was Mukesh Chandrakar murdered?
Preliminary investigation revealed that the journalist’s cousin Ritesh and the supervisor Mahendra attacked Chandrakar with an iron rod, killing him on the spot, after an argument broke out between them throughout dinner. The duo then hid the physique in a septic tank and sealed it with cement to hide the crime, police mentioned. They additionally disposed of Chandrakar’s telephone and the iron rod with which they killed him.
While Dinesh allegedly supervised the cementing of the tank, Suresh was believed to the mastermind behind the plan.
Condolences pour in
Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma known as Chandrakar’s homicide “horrible, painful, and completely unsuitable”. He additionally assured robust motion towards the accused.
The Press Association and the Editors Guild of India condemned the incident and urged the Chhattisgarh authorities to take steps to guard journalists, significantly these concerned in subject reporting and investigative journalism.
“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 guide. 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 finest to make sure that no hurt or hindrance is brought on to any of them in discharging their skilled duties,” the Guild mentioned in a press release.
The Press Association, a number one physique of journalists, mentioned the tragic incident highlighted the pressing want for stronger safeguards to make sure journalists can carry out their very important function with out concern of retribution.