A day after the body of 32-year-old journalist Mukesh Chandrakar was found in a septic tank in Bijapur’s Chhatanpara Basti, three individuals have been arrested in connection with the murder. Authorities also demolished what they claim to be an “illegal property” belonging to the main suspect.

A senior official from the Chhattisgarh government confirmed the developments, told The Indian Express, “In the aftermath of the brutal murder of young journalist Mukesh Chandrakar, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has taken a tough stance, sending a strong message against crime and criminals in the state. Following the CM’s directives, the administration swiftly demolished the house of the main accused using a bulldozer”.

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Home Minister Vijay Sharma, speaking at a press conference on Saturday, identified the main accused as Suresh Chandrakar, a local Congress leader. He announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case and promised a fast-tracked trial.

Chandrakar’s body was discovered on Friday, with authorities suspecting that the septic tank was located near the home of the main suspect. Mukesh Chandrakar, a freelance journalist, had worked with media outlets such as NDTV and News 18 and ran his own YouTube channel, Bastar Junction, which had 1.59 lakh subscribers.

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Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed his grief over the loss, calling it “extremely sad and heartbreaking.” In a statement on X, he pledged, “The culprit will not be spared. We have instructed the authorities to ensure swift justice and the harshest punishment for those responsible.”

Anurag Dwary, Resident Editor at NDTV, mourned the loss of his colleague, saying, “As a journalist, my colleague paid the ultimate price for exposing the truth. It’s a stark reminder of the risks journalists take daily in pursuit of accountability. We stand in solidarity with his family, and we demand a swift and impartial investigation to bring those responsible to justice. His sacrifice will not be in vain, and we will continue his fight for transparency and justice.”