Chhattisgarh: Three detained in connection with Bijapur journalist's murder
Bijapur (PTI): Three persons have been detained in connection with the murder of a 33-year-old journalist whose body was found in a septic tank on a local contractor's property in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, police said on Saturday.
Mukesh Chandrakar, a freelance journalist, went missing on January 1, and his body was found on Friday in the septic tank on a property owned by contractor Suresh Chandrakar at Chattanpara Basti in Bijapur town.
"Three persons have been detained in connection with the murder and are being interrogated," an official here said.
The police, however, did not disclose their names and said the details would be revealed later in the day.
Mukesh worked as a freelance journalist for news channels, including NDTV, and ran a YouTube channel, 'Bastar Junction', which has some 1.59 lakh subscribers. He had played a crucial role in the release of a CoBRA commando, Rakeshwar Singh Manhas, from Maoists' captivity in April 2021 following the Takalguda Naxal ambush in Bijapur, wherein 22 security personnel were martyred.
He went missing on Wednesday evening, and his elder brother Yukesh Chandrakar lodged a complaint with the police the next day, a senior police official said.
Tracking Mukesh's mobile number, police reached the property owned by Suresh Chandrakar and found the body in a septic tank, which was freshly cast with concrete slab, he said.
Police suspect the murder is linked to a recent report of irregularities in road construction work in the district the victim had covered. Suresh Chandrakar is said to be involved in the work.
Journalists held a symbolic road blockade at Hospital Chowk on National Highway 36 in the city in the morning, demanding that the contractor's properties in Bastar division, including Bijapur, be attached and a case be registered against him.
They also demanded a death sentence for the contractor and others involved in the murder, removal of security detail for him, and sealing of his bank accounts, among other demands.
The protesting journalists also sought the suspension or transfer of the Bijapur superintendent of police.
Protestors have warned of an indefinite road blockade from Sunday if their demands are not met.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Friday assured that the culprits would be arrested at the earliest.
Meanwhile, members of the Raipur Press Club on Friday gathered at Jai Stambh Chowk and demanded action against the killers and sought that the state government constitute a special investigation team to probe the murder.
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No need for panic, HMPV not as transmissible as Covid: Karnataka govt
Bengaluru, Jan 6: Following the detection of two Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in the state, the Karnataka government on Monday urged people not to panic as the virus is not as transmissible as Covid-19.
Emphasising that the respiratory virus primarily affects children, causing infections similar to the common cold, the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) said in a release that hospitals have been instructed to report influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases.
To prevent escalation of the spread of the virus, people are advised to cover their mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing, wash hands frequently with soap, avoid public places if symptomatic and close contact with sick persons.
The advisory also advised people not to reuse tissue papers or handkerchiefs, share towels and linen and avoid spitting in public places.
According to DME, HMPV causes flu-like symptoms including cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath. In more severe cases, it can lead to bronchitis or pneumonia, especially in young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals.
The virus spreads through respiratory droplets, close personal contact, and touching surfaces contaminated with the virus followed by touching the mouth, nose, or eyes, it said.
There is no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine for HMPV. Management focuses on alleviating symptoms with supportive care like rest, hydration, and over-the-counter medications for pain, fever, and congestion. Severe cases might require hospitalisation for oxygen therapy or IV fluids, it added.
ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ 8 ತಿಂಗಳ ಮಗು ಹ್ಯೂಮನ್ ಮೆಟಾಪ್ನ್ಯೂಮೋ ವೈರಸ್ (ಎಚ್ಎಂಪಿವಿ) ಸೋಂಕಿಗೆ ಒಳಗಾಗಿರುವ ವರದಿಗಳಿವೆ. ಆದರೆ, ಇದು ಹೊಸ ವೈರಸ್ ಅಲ್ಲ. ಮಗು ಆರೋಗ್ಯ ಸ್ಥಿರವಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಆತಂಕ ಪಡುವ ಅಗತ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ.
— Dinesh Gundu Rao/ದಿನೇಶ್ ಗುಂಡೂರಾವ್ (@dineshgrao) January 6, 2025
2001ರಿಂದ ಎಚ್ಎಂಪಿವಿ ವೈರಾಣು ಕಾಣಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಈ ಕುರಿತು ಗಾಬರಿಯಾಗುವ ಅವಶ್ಯಕತೆಯಿಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೂ, ಮುನ್ನೆಚ್ಚರಿಕೆಯಾಗಿ… pic.twitter.com/8EH7KNObV6
