Bijapur: A popular journalist Mukesh Chandrakar, who went missing on New Year's Day, was murdered and his body was dumped in a septic tank in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur, the police said. Chandrakar is known for his crucial role in the release of CoBRA commando abducted by Maoists in April 2021.The deceased worked as a freelance journalist for national and international news channels and also ran a YouTube channel, `Bastar Junction', which has some 1.59 lakh subscribers. Chandrakar's body, with multiple stab wounds on his head and back, was found on Friday in a septic tank on a local contractor's property in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur city.He went missing on the evening of January 1, and his elder brother Yukesh Chandrakar lodged a complaint with the police the next day. Tracking Mukesh's mobile number, police reached the property owned by contractor Suresh Chandrakar at Chattanpara Basti in Bijapur town and found the body. A murder case was registered and some suspects have been detained for questioning. The autopsy report was awaited.

Report On Road Scam Led To Murder? Some locals said that Mukesh Chandrakar had recently done some stories on irregularities in road construction works in the area, which led to an investigation against the contractor. It is being suspected that the murder might be linked to the same report. What Chief Minister Said? Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said the culprits will be arrested at the earliest. "The news of the murder of Bijapur's young and dedicated journalist Mukesh Chandrakar ji is very sad and heartbreaking. Mukesh ji's demise is an irreparable loss for journalism and society," Sai wrote on X."The culprit will not be spared under any circumstances. I have given instructions to arrest the criminals as soon as possible and ensure the harshest punishment for them," the CM added.