Tue Jan 14 11:33:17 UTC 2025: ## Chhattisgarh CM Announces Aid for Slain Journalist Mukesh Chandrakar

**Raipur, Chhattisgarh, January 14, 2025** – Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai announced a ₹10 lakh compensation package for the family of freelance journalist Mukesh Chandrakar, who was murdered earlier this month in Bijapur district. The Chief Minister also revealed plans to build a building for journalists, which will be named in Chandrakar’s honor.

Chandrakar, 33, was found dead on January 3rd in a septic tank after going missing on January 1st. Police arrested road contractor Suresh Chandrakar, a relative of the victim, in Hyderabad on January 5th, along with three others. Investigators believe Suresh Chandrakar, enraged by a news report exposing alleged corruption in his road construction work, orchestrated the murder.

Chandrakar worked for NDTV and ran a popular YouTube channel, ‘Bastar Junction,’ with 1.59 lakh subscribers. He notably played a key role in securing the release of a CoBRA commando held captive by Maoists in 2021.

The state government has suspended Suresh Chandrakar’s contractor registration and cancelled his contracts. While Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma claimed Suresh Chandrakar was a Congress leader, the opposition party countered that he had recently joined the BJP. The investigation into the murder continues.

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