Indian press groups call for investigation after journalist’s body found in septic tank

Indian media rights groups have called for an investigation after the body of a missing journalist was found hidden in a septic tank. Mukesh Chandrakar, 32, was a well-known freelance journalist in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh who contributed to some of the country’s biggest news channels. He had also widely reported on alleged corruption in the construction industry on his popular YouTube channel. His family had reported Chandrakar missing on New Year’s Day. On Friday, police found his body in the compound of a construction contractor in the town of Bijapur. According to local police, his body was found in a septic tank that had concrete slabs newly placed on top of it. Officers said Chandrakar’s body showed evidence of a blunt force attack, indicating foul play in his killing. Police told Indian media they suspected Chandrakar’s death was related to a recent report he had done into an alleged road construction scam in Bijapur which had resulted in a police investigation. Three people have been arrested so far over Chandrakar’s death and another of the main suspects, Suresh Chandrakar, who owned the construction compound where Chandrakar’s body was found, is still on the run, police have said. The discovery of his body prompted an outpouring of anger among Indian press watchdogs and local journalists, who held a protest in the state. In a statement, the Press Council of India expressed concern over the suspected murder of Chandrakar and called for a report on the “facts of the case”. The president of the local Bastar Journalist Association, Manish Gupta, described the incident as a “dark chapter” and called on the police and government to provide better safety to journalists working in dangerous environments in the state. Vishnu Deo Sai, the chief minister of Chhattisgarh from the ruling Bharatiya Janata party, called Chandrakar’s death “heartbreaking” and promised the “harshest punishment” for those found responsible. India remains a highly dangerous place for journalists, according to global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders, with 28 journalists killed over the past decade due to their reporting.