Mon Jan 06 06:38:13 UTC 2025: ## Journalist’s Murder: Mastermind Arrested in Hyderabad

**Hyderabad/Raipur, India** – The alleged mastermind behind the murder of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar has been arrested in Hyderabad, police announced Sunday night. Suresh Chandrakar, a distant relative and contractor, was apprehended after a city-wide manhunt involving the review of 200 CCTV feeds and the tracing of nearly 300 mobile numbers. He had been missing since the discovery of Chandrakar’s body in a septic tank last week.

Mukesh Chandrakar, a 32-year-old independent journalist and contributor to NDTV, was last seen on New Year’s Day. His body was found in a shed owned by a contractor in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region. A post-mortem revealed he suffered severe head, chest, back, and stomach injuries from a blunt object.

Police have already arrested three other individuals: Ritesh Chandrakar (a cousin), Mahendra Ramteke (a supervisor), and Dinesh Chandrakar (another relative). According to preliminary investigations, Ritesh and Mahendra bludgeoned Mukesh Chandrakar to death following an argument. They then concealed the body in a cemented septic tank, disposing of the murder weapon and his phone. Dinesh allegedly assisted in sealing the tank, while Suresh Chandrakar is believed to have orchestrated the entire plot.

Suresh Chandrakar’s wife is also in custody in Kanker district, undergoing interrogation. Prior to his arrest, police froze four of his bank accounts and demolished an illegally constructed yard he owned.

The murder has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation. Chhattisgarh’s Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma described the killing as “terrible, painful, and utterly wrong,” promising strong action. Both the Press Association and the Editors Guild of India have condemned the incident, urging the Chhattisgarh government to strengthen journalist protection, particularly for those involved in field reporting and investigative journalism. The Guild emphasized the urgent need to ensure the safety of journalists across the country, especially those working in smaller towns and rural areas.

Read More