'He wrote the truth that no one else did'

Friends and colleagues of J Dey pay tribute to the man they knew

Iu00a0knew Dey since 1995, when I first came to Mumbai. We started our careers together, him as a journalist, I as an IPS officer.

We had met only two days ago; he had done a story on coastal security. He did not tell me about any threat or fear, he was relaxed as always.

He was a good human being and would always help people in distress. Most people may not know about this, but Dey had spent a major portion of his savings on taking care of an old lady who had been disowned by her own children. Dey not only took care of the lady, but spent lakhs on her treatment and even conducted her funeral.


J Dey, actor Ajay Devgan, Home Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, MiD DAY MD
Tariq Ansari and Chief of Anti Terrorist Squad, Maharashtra, Rakesh
Maria during the release of Dey's book Zero Dial in August last year.
PIC/ NIMESH DAVE

This is a heavy personal loss to bear.

Parambir Singh, Inspector General of Police (Konkan Range)

I knew Dey for 10 years. He was friendly with everyone, right from an IPS officer to a police constable.

He was a knowledgeable man and was well-versed with policing. He was known for his networking with various agencies.

He would always tell me, 'Only if you work hard will you achieve success,' and followed this philosophy in life too.

His demise is a big loss to the journalistic fraternity and has created a void that can never be filled.

Daya Nayak, Former encounter specialist

I knew Dey personally. He was a very good investigative journalist and would write objectively and to the point, without sensationalising an incident.

His departure has created a huge void and is a big blow not only to MiD DAY but also to the entire journalistic fraternity. He had a good heart and this is an extremely unfortunate incident.

Those unhappy with his writing may be behind this brutal, unfortunate murder.
Dr P S Pasricha, Former Director General of Police

Dey was a dear friend. He was always enthusiasticu00a0 about work and would write very well.
He even gifted a few copies of his book, Zero Dial to me.

K L Prasad, Additional Director General of Police (State Intelligence)

Whenever I wrote a book, I would tell Dey about it first. When I wrote the Mafia Queen, he was the first to read it. There is joy in writing books only if there is an expert to read and criticise your work.

I have lost a dear friend. We covered the crime beat together for five years, and always shared a healthy rivalry.

Of late, when I started concentrating more on my book writing, Dey would be the first to read what I wrote. I was also one of the first people to read his book, Zero Dial.

I'm at a loss of words to express my feelings about our deep friendship. I would not have believed the news of his death, had I not seen his dead body in the hospital and met his wife.

Hussain Zaidi, Senior Journalist and author

This is a terrible, shocking, completely unexpected incident.

If a fearless journalist like him can be shot in broad daylight, it is a sad day for law and order.

I knew him on a personal level, and he was a co-operative, proactive man who never said no to anything.

Nishant Sarvankar, Head of Crime Journalist Association

We (journalists) will come together and demand that the Commissioner of Police resign. First, it was the arrest of MiD DAY journalist Tarakant Dwivedi. Now, this. Dey exposed the wrongdoings of the police and uncovered corruption. The state government needs to take firm action immediately.

Prasad Mokashi, of Marathi Patrakar Sangh

Dey was a dear friend and we both had a love for nature. I will miss him. He did several stories on the environment.

Dey always got his facts right and never worried about the consequences of his stories. Apart from being a fearless writer, he had unparalleled knowledge of the functioning of the underworld, policemen and politicians.

What has happened today is very sad.

Debi Goenka, environmentalist

This incident highlights how law and order in the metropolis is deteriorating. Mafia is allowed to flourish, while good journalists suffer.

Dey was a good journalist and wrote the truth about issues and facts that noone else covered.

The High Court has stated that measures should be taken to secure people speaking up for the rights of the public, which includes journalists, but the state has not done anything even though a journalist has been shot dead in Mumbai in broad daylight.

Sumaira Abdulali of Movement against Intimidation, Threat and Revenge against Activists (MITRA)

My halting command over the English language has always been a chip on my shoulder, but if there was anyone who understood and helped me overcome that, it was my guru, Dey sir.

Dey sir and I were friends for over 15 years, when, during our early days as journalists with The Indian Express and Hindi daily, Nav Bharat, respectively, we would meet and chat at restaurants, in between stories.

Appreciative of my apprehensions over my lack of fluency in English, Dey sir would try and coax me to join an English daily. "I will write your copy, you just join," he would say, generously, and ultimately, it was his support that convinced me to join MiD DAY in October 2010.

Throughout my time at MiD DAY, he was my English language journalism guru, and whenever we talked, he insisted that I write a book based on my experiences in crime reporting. Confidently dismissing my reluctance, Dey sir said I need not worry and that he would take care of the language. As friends and colleagues, we always hoped to work together, and got our wish when I joined MiD DAY last year, but I never imagined that the end was so near. Today, I have lost a friend and a guru. Now I will definitely write the book he wanted me to, and dedicate it to him.

When I was arrested in May for a June 2010 story under the Official Secrets Act, Dey sir went from being a friend to my older brother. Although I was in the lock up and then in hospital for a few days, he fought for my release outside. He pooled together all his resources to help get me released. If it were not for him, I would have broken down.

After my release on May 22, I waited to try and find the right opportunity to express my gratitude towards him, but the chance never came. His death is a huge loss to all of us, but today, I have lost my guru.
Tarakant Dwivedi, principal correspondent, MiD DAY