Mukesh Chandrakar murder: Media downplays accused's ties to Congress

28-year-old journalist Mukesh Chandrakar, who ran a YouTube channel called Bastar Junction in Chhattisgarh, had been missing since 1st January. After his elder brother Yukesh Chandrakar raised the alarm, police discovered his body in a septic tank in the compound of Congress leader Suresh Chandrakar’s residential premises in Chhatanpara Basti of Bijapur. The prominent media outlets, such as The Times of India, The Hindu, NDTV and The Indian Express, among others notably omitted the fact that Suresh, the primary suspect, is also affiliated with the Congress party. The report included statements from Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who confirmed that Suresh had been a leader and office bearer within Congress, however, it added a country from Congress leader Sushil Anand Shukla who denied this assertion, stating that he had joined the ruling party. Likewise, Outlook stated, “Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma claimed that Suresh Chandrakar was a Congress leader, while the opposition alleged that he had recently joined the ruling BJP,” in yet another attempt to undermine the truth that lies beneath the facade of political allegations.