In a major development, law enforcement has apprehended five officials linked to the murder of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar in Bijapur. The arrests, carried out on Wednesday, involve personnel from the Public Works Department (PWD). Those detained include both current and former Executive Engineers, along with a Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) and a Sub-Engineer. The individuals have been placed under judicial remand for two days as the investigation progresses.
**Officials Arrested:**
* D.R. Sahu (Retired Executive Engineer)
* V.K. Chouhan (Retired Executive Engineer)
* H.N. Patra – Former Executive Engineer
* Pramod Singh Kanwar – SDO Bijapur
* Santosh Das – Sub-Engineer, Jagdalpur
**In Custody:**
* Suresh Chandrakar
**On Pre-Arrest Bail:**
* B. L. Dhruv – Former Executive Engineer
* R.K. Sinha – SDO
* G.S. Kodopi – Sub-Engineer
### The Discovery of the Body
Mukesh Chandrakar was last seen on January 1, 2025, and his body was later discovered in a closed septic tank on January 3. The primary suspect, contractor Suresh Chandrakar, was taken into custody in Hyderabad.
**The Reason for the Killing**
Mukesh Chandrakar, a freelance journalist, was investigating corruption in the construction of roads within the Naxal-influenced area of Bijapur. He used social media and his video platform to expose the poor quality of road construction. It is alleged that Suresh Chandrakar, a relative of the deceased, orchestrated the murder as a result of the published reports.