Sun Jan 05 20:19:24 UTC 2025: ## Journalist Murder Sparks Outrage, Demands for Justice

**ITANAGAR, Arunachal Pradesh —** The brutal murder of independent journalist Mukesh Chandrakar has ignited widespread condemnation and calls for swift justice. Chandrakar, a contributor to NDTV, was found dead in a septic tank days after exposing corruption in a road construction project in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district. The implicated contractor’s premises is where his body was discovered.

Several journalist unions, including the Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ), the Arunachal Publishers and Broadcasting Guild (APBG), and the Indian Journalists Union (IJU), have strongly denounced the killing, calling it a blatant attack on press freedom. They highlighted the incident as part of a disturbing trend targeting journalists who investigate corruption and crime.

The APUWJ and APBG have demanded a thorough and transparent investigation into Chandrakar’s death, urging both state and central governments to ensure the arrest and prosecution of those responsible. They also called for protection for Chandrakar’s family and other journalists working in high-risk areas.

The IJU, along with the Chhattisgarh Shramjeevi Patrakar Kalyan Sangh (CSPKS), went further, demanding the immediate apprehension and harsh punishment of the main accused, and the cancellation of all contracts held by the implicated contractor. They also urged the immediate notification of the pending Journalist Safety & Security Act and called for a government job to be offered to one of Mukesh’s family members.

The CSPKS highlighted a pattern of intimidation against journalists in Bastar, citing a recent incident where four journalists investigating illegal sand mining were falsely implicated. While they received bail, the case underscores the risks journalists face in exposing corruption.

While Chhattisgarh authorities have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), and taken steps like demolishing the contractor’s illegal shed and freezing his bank accounts, journalist unions insist these measures are insufficient and demand stronger action to protect journalists and uphold press freedom.

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