Chhattisgarh: RTI activist's burnt skeletal remains recovered from forest

Vivek Chaubey (32), an RTI activist who also worked as a journalist for a local newspaper, had been missing since November 12, according to a report in the media .

Police arrested four people in connection with his murder after an investigation was launched following a missing person’s complaint on November 16.

A cash reward was also announced for information about him, Kabirdham district Superintendent of Police Lal Umed Singh said.

On November 12, he left his home in Kawardha town and did not get back.

Police arrested the Sarpanch of Bokkhari village and his three associates after he roused suspicion with an announcement of a cash reward for leads into the murder.

The accused admitted to committing the murder during interrogation.

"In his statement, the accused sarpanch said Mr Chaubey was with him till late on November 12 night. An argument broke out between them, following which he hit Mr Chaubey on the head with a stick, leading to his death," the SP was quoted as saying in the report.

"The four accused then took the body into the jungle and burnt it using wood. They also dismantled the victim's motorcycle in three parts and buried it in the forest and kept his mobile phone with them," Singh added.

The accused also tried to mislead police by making calls from the victim’s phone from different locations to make it look like he was still alive and, on the move, the SP said.

A case has been registered and further probe is underway, the SP said.