Journalist, three members of family found murdered in MP

A day after a local journalist and three members of his family were found allegedly murdered in his house, the Madhya Pradesh government on Sunday announced an STF-level probe into the incident.

Madhya Pradesh Police’s Special Task Force (STF) will probe the murder of Chandrika Rai and the members of his family, Director-General of Police S K Raut said after visiting the town.
Chandrika Rai (42), wife Durga Rai (40), son Jalaj (19) and daughter Nisha (14) were found lying in a pool of blood in different rooms of the family’s house on Saturday evening.
While Rai worked as a freelancer for dailies “Navbharat” and “Hitavada,” his wife was a member of local Janpad.

According to police, the house was locked from outside on Saturday. Finding something amiss, Rai’s brother went to the house and broke the lock. Upon entering the house, he was the first to find the horrific scene inside.

Suspect

Even as police are ascertaining the motive behind the incident, they suspect that the murder could have been an insider’s job and was committed on the night of February 17.
The victims appeared to have been hit on the head by a heavy object. The incident has sent shock waves among citizens, who observed a bandh.

The journalist fraternity protesting against the incident did not allow police to take the bodies for cremation. The DGP later assured the scribes that the culprits will be nabbed soon following which they let the bodies to be shifted for the last rites.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced Rs 1 lakh to the kin of Rai’s family.
Meanwhile, condemning the murder, opposition leader Ajay Singh said the scribe was actively writing about illegal mining in the area. He also alleged that law and order situation has totally collapsed in the state.