Three people were arrested after Mukesh Chandrakar’s body was found stuffed in a septic tank in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, on January 3.
India’s media watchdog and other journalism organizations have called for action after the body of a freelance journalist who exposed allegations of corruption in a road construction project was found stuffed in a septic tank in Bijapur, in the central state of Chhattisgarh. They are demanding an investigation.
Police have arrested at least three people, including two of his cousins, in connection with the murder of Mukesh Chandrakar (28).
Mr. Chandrakar had widely reported on corruption and Maoist insurgency in the mineral-rich state. He ran the popular YouTube channel “Bastarjunction”.
In a statement late Saturday, the Press Council of India expressed “concern” over Chandrakar’s murder and called for a report on the “facts of the case.”
The Editors Guild of India also said it was “deeply disturbed” by the development. “The safety of journalists, especially those working in small towns and rural areas, is of paramount importance,” the company said in a statement.
“The Editors Guild urges the Chhattisgarh government to promptly investigate the case and spare no effort to convict.”
Chandrakar’s body was found in Bijapur on January 3 after his family reported him missing and police traced his mobile phone records.
Chhattisgarh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai called Chandrakar’s death “heartbreaking” and said those found responsible would receive “the harshest punishment”. I promised.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi expressed shock over the incident and demanded strict action against the perpetrators.
“I appeal to the state government that strict and immediate action should be taken in this case, that the culprits should be given severe punishment and be given adequate compensation, and that the families of the deceased should be given job consideration. “We demand that it should be done,” she said.
Last year, India was ranked 159th in the World Press Freedom Index run by Reporters Without Borders.
