Raipur: In the murder of independent journalist Mukesh Chandrakar in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, three people were arrested on Saturday. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma claimed that the main accused, Suresh Chandrakar, was a Congress leader.
He added that a Special Investigation Team will be set up to probe the case, PTI reported. However, the Congress claimed Suresh Chandrakar had joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
Mukesh Chandrakar (33), a freelance journalist, went missing on January 1, and his body was found on Friday in a septic tank on a property owned by Suresh Chandrakar at Chattanpara Basti in Bijapur town, as per police. While Suresh Chandrakar is absconding, his kin Ritesh Chandrakar and Dinesh Chandrakar have been arrested along with supervisor Mahendra Ramteke, Deputy CM told reporters.
"Suresh Chandrakar is the main accused in the case. He is a Congress leader and office bearer of the party in Bijapur. The process to freeze his bank accounts and that of the other accused has begun. We have put on hold three accounts of Suresh Chandrakar," Sharma, who also holds the Home portfolio, said. The administration has also initiated action against the accused's illegal properties and encroachments, Sharma added.
Hailing Mukesh Chandrakar, the deputy CM said he was known for his reporting in the interiors of the Maoist-hit region and had a deep understanding of local issues.
"His murder is a major dent in efforts to establish peace in the Bastar region. The Chhattisgarh government has set up an 11-member SIT under IPS officer Mayank Gurjar, Bijapur Additional Superintendent of Police, to probe his murder. Police will submit a chargesheet in 3-4 weeks and will request the court for a speedy trial," Sharma informed.
A construction yard built by Suresh Chandrakar after usurping forest land along Bijapur-Gangaloor Road has been razed, local officials said.
A news report highlighting alleged corruption in a road construction work in Bijapur was shown on NDTV on December 25 (which is being discussed as the motive behind Mukesh Chandrakar's murder), and a Public Works Department (PWD) probe was initiated into the same day, Sharma said. State Deputy CM Arun Sao, who also holds a PWD portfolio, said the investigation will be carried out into every project executed by Suresh Chandrakar.
Mukesh Chandrakar worked as a freelance journalist for the news channel NDTV and also ran a YouTube channel, 'Bastar Junction', which has 1.59 lakh subscribers. He played a crucial role in the release of CoBRA commando Rakeshwar Singh Manhas from Maoist captivity in April 2021 following the Takalguda Naxal ambush in Bijapur that killed 22 security personnel.