New Delhi/Raipur, 5 January 2025: The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) joins its affiliate the Chhattisgarh Shramjeevi Patrakar Kalyan Sangh in demanding from the Chhattisgarh government that the main accused in the brutal murder of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar in Bijapur, be immediately apprehended and along with other three (2 relatives) accused arrested be meted out harshest punishment. It also demanded that the Journalist Safety & Security Act, pending for the past two years for Governor’s signature be immediately notified.
The murder of 31-year-old Mukesh hit national headlines as was contributing reporter for NDTV channel and ran a YouTube channel, which exposed roadways scams in Bastar. He had gone missing on Wednesday and his bludgeoned body was found in a septic tank on Friday in a shed owned by a contractorSuresh Chandrakar, a relative and main accused in the murder, as Mukesh had exposed corruption in the roadways works which he was carrying out.
Condemning the murder, CSPKS President Asif Iqbal and General Secretary BD Nizami said journalists are being constantly targeted in Bastar and there’s no fear of law among those engaged in corruption in government contracts. They cited the case of four journalists from Bastar who had gone to expose illegal sand mining case in August but were trapped by police and contractor who put 15 gm of cannabis in their car! While they got bail, they still have to appear in court in bordering Andhra Pradesh.
In a statement, IJU President and former member of Press Council of India Geetartha Pathak and Secretary General and IFJ Vice President Sabina Inderjit said it’s tragic that journalists have to pay a price with their lives for doing their job and exposing the malaise of corruption. While the State Home department has set up SIT to probe the case, Suresh’s illegal shed demolished and four of his bank accounts have been frozen, the IJU said it’s not enough. Harshest punishment be meted to accused, not only Suresh’s contracts be cancelled but all those in government involved must be investigated, and one of the family members of Mukesh be given a government job.
