Chhattisgarh Journalist Mukesh Chandrakar Murder: Whistleblower’s Death Highlights Dangers in Conflict Zones
The murder of Chhattisgarh journalist Mukesh Chandrakar has brought attention to the dangers faced by whistleblowers in conflict areas. The body of the 31-year-old journalist was found in a septic tank at a construction site in Bijapur, southern Chhattisgarh. Mukesh had been missing for several days, and the Bijapur police arrested four suspects in connection with his death.
Mukesh, a contributor to national television news channels and the creator of the popular YouTube channel, Bastar Junction, had been reporting on a road construction project in Bijapur, a region affected by Left Wing Extremism. The project, connecting Gangalur and Nelasnar, was initially budgeted at Rs 56 crore but later rose to Rs 120 crore. A major portion of the work was managed by a local construction company owned by three brothers: Dinesh, Ritesh, and Suresh Chandrakar, to whom Mukesh was distantly related.
A recent TV report exposed alleged corruption in the road project, highlighting how the road was washed away shortly after its completion. Following the report, the Chhattisgarh government launched an inquiry. Before Mukesh’s disappearance, the Chandrakar brothers reportedly invited him to their home.
Mukesh’s brother filed a missing person report, and electronic surveillance led police to question the Chandrakar brothers. Mukesh’s body was discovered soon after, with the post-mortem revealing that blunt force trauma caused his death. Ritesh Chandrakar was arrested at Raipur airport, and Dinesh and Mahendra Ramteke, a company supervisor, were arrested in Bijapur. Suresh was apprehended in Hyderabad.
This tragedy highlights the risks faced by journalists and whistleblowers working in areas where corruption and conflict intersect.
