News & Pics: Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai (RD/SB)

Mumbai, Jun 14: The Press Club of metro expressed shock over the killing of veteran crime journalist, J Dey.

Dey, editor - investigations of Mid-Day, was shot dead in broad daylight at Powai at suburban Andheri (East) here on Saturday June 12 by unidentified assailants. Though the motive of the murder is yet to be established, Dey had recently written a series of stories on the adulteration of diesel in Thane and sought police protection after he received threatening calls.

The Press Club of metro demands the perpetrators and conspirators of this heinous killing of the senior journalist be arrested and brought to book immediately.

The killing of J Dey also underlines the increasing threat investigative journalists are being subject to by powerful political and business interests indulging in illegal acts. Scores of incidents of journalists being beaten or threatened by politicians and local mafia have been brought to the fore in recent weeks and months. The latest incident in February this year involved no less than the deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar who allegedly threatened and evicted journalists during a rally in his home constituency of Nanded.

Journalist organizations have been demanding a law to make attacks on journalists a non-bailable offence, but the political class have ensured that the proposed draft has never seen the light of the day.

Journalist organizations will be meeting shortly to decide on a course of action to ensure justice is done in the case of the brutal murder of J Dey.

Before joining Mid-Day, J Dey had worked with Hindustan Times and the Indian Express. He had also authored two books – ‘Khallas: An A to Z Guide to the Underworld’ and ‘Zero Dial: The Dangerous World of Informers’.