Raipur: Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma on Saturday said that an 11-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to catch absconding Congress leader Suresh Chandrakar who is accused in the murder of Journalist Mukesh Chandrakar.
Speaking to ANI, Sharma said that journalist Mukesh Chandrakar was reporting on efforts to establish peace and combat Naxalism(Maoism) in Bastar.
“Mukesh Chandrakar was covering the areas of inner Bastar, Bastar Junction, for establishing peace in Bastar, for ending the Maoism from Bastar. This murder happened through the conspiracy of Congress leader Suresh Chandrakar, the police immediately took action and registered an FIR. An 11-member SIT has been formed,” Chhattisgarh DyCM said.
“Action is also being taken on all his (Suresh Chandrakar) illegal hideouts, his bank accounts have been held… Four teams have been formed to catch absconding Congress leader Suresh Chandrakar. We will complete the investigation in four weeks and file it in the court,” he added.
The search for a Bijapur-based journalist, who had been missing since January 1, ended tragically when his body was found in a septic tank on the premises of a private contractor in the district on Friday, police said.
Notably, Mukesh Chandrakar was one of the interlocutors who played a key role in the release of a CRPF constable abducted by Naxals after an encounter in Bijapur in 2021. He was actively covering Naxal attacks, encounters, and other issues in Bastar.
Recently, Chandrakar had done a story on the alleged corruption in road construction.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed his grief over the death of Mukesh Chandrakar, calling it an irreparable loss to both the journalism world and society.
“The news of the murder of Mukesh Chandrakar, a young and dedicated journalist from Bijapur, is extremely sad and heartbreaking. The demise of Mukesh is an irreparable loss to the journalism world and society,” CM Sai said in a post on X.
He further said that the perpetrators of this incident will not be spared under any circumstances. “We have instructed that the culprits be arrested as soon as possible and given the strictest punishment,” he added.
Chhattisgarh police have arrested three individuals–Ritesh Chandrakar, Dinesh Chandrakar, and Mahendra–in connection with the murder of journalist.
Speaking on the operation, Bastar Inspector General (IG) P Sundarraj said that the role of contractor Suresh Chandrakar is also being investigated.
“Ritesh Chandrakar and Mahendra hit Mukesh Chandrakar and Dinesh Chandrakar tried to hide the evidence. The role of contractor Suresh Chandrakar is also being investigated and action will be taken accordingly…Further investigation is underway…Three accused have been arrested…An eleven-member SIT has been formed to further investigate the incident,” Sundarraj said. (ANI)
