Three arrested after Mukesh Chandrakar’s physique discovered on January 3 in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur stuffed in a septic tank.
India’s media watchdog and different journalism organisations have demanded a radical investigation after the physique of a contract journalist, who had uncovered alleged corruption in a highway development challenge, was discovered stuffed in a septic tank in Bijapur within the central state of Chhattisgarh.
Police have arrested at the least three individuals, together with two of his cousins, in reference to the homicide of Mukesh Chandrakar, 28.
Chandrakar had reported broadly on corruption and Maoist rise up within the mineral-rich state. He ran a well-liked YouTube channel “Bastar Junction”.
The Press Council of India expressed “concern” over Chandrakar’s killing, calling for a report on the “information of the case” in a press release late on Saturday.
The Editors Guild of India additionally mentioned it was “deeply disturbed” by the event. “The security of journalists – particularly these working in smaller cities and rural areas – is of paramount significance,” it mentioned in a press release.
“The Editors Guild calls on the federal government of Chhattisgarh to spare no efforts in investigating the case speedily and bringing the responsible to e book.”
Chandrakar’s physique was discovered on January 3 in Bijapur after police tracked his cell phone information following his household reporting him lacking.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, from the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering (BJP), referred to as Chandrakar’s loss of life “heartbreaking” and promised the “harshest punishment” for these discovered accountable.
Congress celebration chief Priyanka Gandhi expressed her shock on the incident and demanded strict motion in opposition to the perpetrators.
“I demand from the state authorities that strict and rapid motion needs to be taken on this case, the culprits needs to be given extreme punishment and correct compensation and job needs to be thought of for the household of the deceased,” she mentioned.
India was ranked 159th final yr on the World Press Freedom Index, run by Reporters With out Borders.
