Opinion
Mukesh Chandrakar, The Brave Journalist Found With His Heart Ripped Out, Neck Broken And 15 Head Fractures. Dirty Politics Vs Honest Journalism, Death And Torture, The Price Of Truth In India
In a chilling and grotesque reminder of the dangers of speaking truth to power, Mukesh Chandrakar, a 33-year-old investigative journalist, paid the ultimate price for his courage.
His body was discovered in a septic tank on January 4, bearing marks of unspeakable brutality. With his heart ripped out, neck broken, and 15 fractures on his head, Mukesh’s death is a grim indictment of the nexus between corruption and political power in India.
What was Mukesh’s Crime?
He exposing a ₹120-crore scam in Bastar’s road construction project, implicating Congress leader and contractor Suresh Chandrakar. His revelations led to an official investigation, but it also sealed his fate.
The Horrific End of a Brave Journalist
On New Year’s Day, Mukesh informed a colleague in Raipur about meeting a local contractor. That was the last time anyone heard from him. Four days later, his body was found buried in a septic tank on the premises of Suresh Chandrakar in Bijapur. The tank had been freshly sealed with concrete, as if to bury not just a body, but the truth Mukesh had uncovered.
The autopsy report revealed unimaginable torture. Along with his neck and ribs broken, parts of his liver were found in pieces. Doctors described the savagery as unprecedented in their careers, confirming that more than two people were involved in the heinous act.
The Dirty Hands of Politics
The primary accused, Suresh Chandrakar, is no ordinary contractor. A close aide of Chhattisgarh Congress president Deepak Baij, he enjoyed political protection and influence. Pictures of Baij with Chandrakar have surfaced, exposing the contractor’s deep ties with the ruling party.
While the BJP-led state government acted swiftly by arresting Suresh and his brothers, razing his illegal constructions, and seizing his bank accounts, the incident has turned into a political mudslinging match.
The BJP accused the Congress of harboring criminals in its “Mohabbat ki Dukaan” (shop of love), (is this how a political party be referring to the disgusting murder?) while Congress hit back, blaming the BJP for the deteriorating law and order situation in Chhattisgarh.
Amidst this blame game – What about justice for Mukesh?
A Dangerous Profession in India
Mukesh’s murder is not an isolated case. In India, being an honest journalist often means walking a tightrope between life and death. “Being an honest, investigative journalist in India is the bravest thing.”
This bravery, however, comes at a steep cost. Mukesh had previously helped secure the release of a CRPF jawan abducted by Naxals. Yet, the system he sought to serve failed him.
As Usual, the Blame Game Begins—But What About the Terror Mukesh Felt?
Predictably, Mukesh Chandrakar’s murder has become fodder for the never-ending blame game between political parties. The BJP accuses the Congress of shielding criminals like Suresh Chandrakar, flaunting photos of the accused with top Congress leaders. Meanwhile, the Congress counters by pointing fingers at the BJP-led state government, decrying the deteriorating law and order situation under their rule.
But amid this political circus, the real story—the sheer terror and agony that Mukesh endured—gets buried.
Imagine the moments leading up to his death. A man armed with nothing but his pen and a determination to expose the truth, lured into a trap by those who saw his courage as a threat. Surrounded, outnumbered, and helpless, Mukesh would have faced the cruel realization that his fight for justice had come at a deadly cost.
His killers didn’t just murder him—they tortured him with an intent so vile it defies humanity. The 15 fractures on his skull, his broken ribs, and the removal of his heart speak volumes about the sheer hatred and fear his work inspired in those he exposed. It wasn’t just an attempt to silence him; it was a grotesque display meant to send a chilling message to every other journalist who dares to question the powerful.
What About Justice?
The swift action by the Bijapur administration—arrests, demolitions, and account seizures—might seem like a move toward justice. But is it enough?
The most important question here is this – will Mukesh’s killers face the full extent of the law, or will political influence and legal loopholes allow them to walk free?
And beyond the immediate arrests, what about the system that emboldens such acts? What about the political patronage that shields criminals, the impunity with which they operate, and the culture of fear that silences dissent?
Justice for Mukesh must go beyond his murder. It must dismantle the machinery of corruption and intimidation that thrives in the shadows of political power.
The Death Price of Honesty
Mukesh Chandrakar was more than a journalist; he was a symbol of what journalism should be—fearless, unrelenting, and accountable to the truth. His death is a grim reminder that in India, honesty has a death price, and courage often comes with a funeral.
As his family mourns a son, a brother, and a brave soul, the country and us must confront an uncomfortable truth – we have failed him. Failed to protect him, failed to honor his work, and failed to uphold the ideals he stood for.
The question is not about who killed Mukesh Chandrakar. The question is: How long will India let the dirty hands of politics dictate the fate of those who dare to hold it accountable
Now What?
The tragedy of Mukesh Chandrakar’s death is the price of truth in a country where corruption often hides behind political patronage. His gruesome murder should shake the conscience of the nation, but will it? Or will his story be buried under the weight of political propaganda and apathy?
Justice for Mukesh isn’t just about punishing his killers; it’s about dismantling the systemic rot that allowed this atrocity to occur. It’s about ensuring that no other journalist meets the same fate for doing their job.
India must decide: will it protect its truth-tellers or let them be silenced by the dirty hands of politics? Mukesh’s death demands an answer, not just from the government, but from every citizen who values the truth.
Mukesh Chandrakar’s story is not just his own in fact it is a grim chapter in the book of Indian journalism, where courage meets cruelty and justice remains a distant dream.
