A journalist investigating corruption in India’s construction industry has been found in a septic tank, with his heart allegedly ripped out and liver cut into pieces.
Mukesh Chandrakar suffered a brutal death before his body was buried in the underground container to decompose and covered with cement to hide the crime.
An autopsy report revealed the 28-year-old had suffered 15 fractures to his head and ribs, had a broken neck and some or his organs were removed.
Doctors said they had not seen such a case in their careers spanning more than 12 years, India Today reported.
Four people have been arrested, including three of his relatives, according to local media reports.
Mukesh was discovered three days after his brother reported him missing on New Year’s Day.
His sibling became suspicious after his mobile phone remained switched off after a meeting at a building contractor’s property.
Police officers tracked the signal to the compound in the Bijapur town area.
They could only identify Mukesh’s body by a tattoo on his hand.
The journalist worked with the popular YouTube channel, Bastar Junction, and reported on poor road construction and corruption.
One of his recent reports revealed alleged corruption in a project in Bijapur and is now being discussed as the potential motive behind his killing.
The Press Council of India expressed concern over the suspected murder and called for a report on the ‘facts of the case’.
Vishnu Deo Sai, the chief minister of Chhattisgarh, said Mukesh’s death is ‘heartbreaking’ and pledged the ‘harshest punishment’ for his killers.
He wrote: ‘The killing of Mukesh is an irreparable loss to the world of journalism and society.
‘The culprit of this incident will not be spared under any circumstances. We have given instructions to arrest the criminals as soon as possible and give them the harshest punishment.’
India ranked 159 out of 180 countries in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index.
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