Senior investigative journalist shot dead in Mumbai

Mumbai (PTI) - A senior Indian investigative
journalist, who extensively covered underworld and crime for
over two decades, was shot dead in broad daylight on Saturday
by four motorbike-borne persons who pumped at least four
bullets into him at close range in suburban Powai.
Jyotirmoy Dey (56), Editor (Special Investigation) with
an English eveninger 'Mid-Day', was riding his motorcycle when
he was gunned down in a daring attack that shocked the media
fraternity.
Dey was shot dead by unidentified persons in Powai at
15.30 hours, Joint Police Commissioner (Law & Order) Rajnish
Seth said.
City police's Crime Branch, which usually probes
underworld and serious crime incidents, has taken up
investigations into the case.
According to Additional Police Commissioner (West)
Vishwas Nagre Patil, four persons on two mobikes fired at
least four to five rounds at Dey, who was also riding a bike,
from behind this afternoon near Spectra Building at D Mart in
Hiranandani area of Powai.
After the attack, he was rushed to nearby Hiranandani
hospital where he was declared dead before admission, Patil
said, adding the shooters fled the spot after firing.
"Nine wounds were found on his body," he said, adding "
probably four to five bullets must have been fired taking into
account entry and exit wounds."
Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik said later in
the evening, "He(Dey) was hit by eight bullets and all of them
at one place mostly near the chest." Patnaik said the killing
was an "organised crime" executed in a professional manner.
Patnaik however said only a post-mortem of the victim
would determine the exact number of bullets that hit him.
Chief Minister of the west Indian state of Maharashtra
Prithviraj Chavan said Dey had not communicated to authorities
any threat to him and suggested no one should "jump to
conclusions."
State Home Minister R R Patil also said Dey had not
made any complaint regarding any threat to his life. He said
the killers will noy be spared and will be brought to book.
Mid-Day Executive Editor Sachin Kalbag said Dey had not
spoken to him about any danger to his life.
Police sources however said Dey, who recently ran a
series of stories on oil mafia, had received threats from
anti-social elements. He had also written two books on oil
mafia and the underworld.
Dey, who had previously worked with the Hindustan Times
and the Indian Express, is survived by his wife Shubra, who is
also a journalist.
"We are verifying his mobile phone records and will
record the statement of his family members, who reside in
Ghatkopar," a police officer said.
The assailants appeared to be young, Vishwas Patil
said, adding police was ascertaining if their movements had
been captured by the CCTV cameras placed at nearby buildings.
Commissioner Patnaik said, "It(killing) is a job done
professionally...We are doing the investigation on the lines
that it is doen by an organised syndicate."
"The case has been given to the Crime Branch from the
start because it is a matter of veteran journalist and I think
this incident is the first of its kind. We are taking this
case seriously" he added.
PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal said the journalist did
not 'target' any gang or mafia in particular.
Asked if the killing could be linked to elements from
the underworld or the oil mafia, Bhujbal, a former Home
Minister, said, "Dey was a very honest person. He used to
write on underworld. He was not targeting anyone in
particular, whether any gang or any (oil) mafia".