MiD DAY journalist shot dead by unidentified assailants in Mumbai

Mangalore Today News Network

Mumbai, June 11: A senior investigative journalist working with MiD DAY was today shot dead in broad daylight by unidentified persons in Mumbai. The victim, Jyotirmoy Dey, was rushed to the Hiranandani hospital where he was declared brought dead.

The incident occurred in the suburban Powai area of the city. According to police, four motorcycle-borne men fired at Mr Dey this afternoon. The shooters escaped from the spot, police added.

"Approximately, 9 entry-exit wounds were found which means at least 5 bullets were fired", Vishwas Nagare Patil, Additional CP, Special Branch, Mumbai Police said.

The deceased headed the crime bureau of the publication.

Reacting to the incident, Maharashtra PWD Minister Chhagan Bhujbal told NDTV that he was ’shocked’ by the attack. He further added that it appeared to be a handiwork of the underworld.

"The way he was killed shows that it was a well-planned attack...must be an attack by underworld", Mr Bhujbal said.

Meanwhile, Sachin Kalbaug, the Group Editor of MiD DAY also expressed ’shock’ over Mr Dey’s death. Speaking to NDTV, Mr Kalbaug though said holding the underworld responsible for the journalist’s death would be "premature".

Mr Dey is considered to be arguably India’s best-connected writer on the Mumbai underworld. He spent most of his reporting career bringing out accounts of the goings-on in the Mumbai underworld for several newspapers including the Indian Express and the Hindustan Times.

He is the author of ’Zero Dial: The Dangerous World of Informers’ and ’Khallas’ - considered a dictionary on the Mumbai underworld.

Mr Dey also wrote extensively about fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim, Chotta Rajan and others. He was reportedly working on a series on Dawood when he was killed today.