Journalist murder: Broken ribs, heart ripped out, says autopsy; key accused arrested
CHHATISHGAD,JAN 6 : Suresh Chandrakar, the main accused in the murder of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar in Chhattisgarh, was arrested by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) from Hyderabad on Sunday. A postmortem examination of the journalist revealed the nature of the grisly murder, with the victim having 15 fractures to his head, a broken neck and his heart being ripped out.
Suresh Chandrakar, a contractor, is believed to be the alleged mastermind behind Mukesh Chandrakar’s murder after the journalist exposed him for allegedly indulging in corruption. He had been on the run since the incident came to light on January 3.
Doctors who conducted the postmortem examination of the 28-year-old journalist, found four pieces of liver, five broken ribs, 15 fractures to the head, a broken neck and his heart being ripped out. They said they had not seen such a case in their 12-year-old careers.
According to doctors, the number of accused in the murder must have been more than two people.
The Communist Party of India (Maoist), a banned outfit, condemned the murder of Mukesh Chandrakar and demanded a thorough probe into the killing.
Praising Chandrakar for exposing corruption in road construction projects in Chhattisgarh, the outfit said the journalist performed his duty dutifully by raising issues related to people, politics and culture.
MUKESH CHANDRAKAR FOUND DEAD IN SEPTIC TANK
On January 3, the body of Mukesh Chandrakar, who worked with a local news channel, was found in a septic tank on the premises of Suresh Chandrakar, whom he had recently exposed for corruption in Chhattisgarh.
Mukesh Chandrakar, who had been missing since the night of January 1, recently conducted an investigation against Suresh Chandrakar, exposing alleged irregularities in a Rs 120-crore road construction project in Bastar. The expose had prompted the state government to initiate an enquiry into the contractor’s activities.
Mukesh’s elder brother, Yukesh Chandrakar, filed a missing person report after his phone remained switched off following a meeting arranged by Suresh Chandrakar’s brother, Ritesh, at one of the contractor’s properties.
Three people have been arrested so far, including Dinesh Chandrakar and Ritesh Chandrakar, the brothers of Suresh Chandrakar. Suresh is absconding. Several suspects, including those from the contractor’s circle, were being questioned, police said.
-PTI
