As the city comes to grips with the murder of the doyen of investigative crime reporting, Home Minister RR Patil, journalists and politicians from across the fray condemn J Dey's killing
As the city comes to grips with the murder of the doyen of investigative crime reporting, Home Minister RR Patil, journalists and politicians from across the fray condemn J Dey's killing
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What course of action is the Home Ministry taking with respect to the murder of J Dey?
I would like to express my grief over this shocking murder of a senior journalist. I was in Nashik when the news came in and I immediately called the Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) and asked him to form as many teams as required to trace and nab the killers. It will be a high level probe involving senior officials. Police have begun investigations and I am confident that whoever is behind this act will soon be arrested.
Has the state government and police failed to protect people?
Police is making every effort to protect the life and property of common people. Sometimes you cannot predict what will happen, unless you share information with the police on the threats or warnings you may be get from criminals.
There is still no word from the government on enacting a law against attacks on journalists.
The proposal is currently with the government and the state cabinet will take a final call on it. It has to be moved by the Department of Information and Public Relations, as all issues related to journalists are handled by them. The Home Ministry will direct the police to implement whatever decision is taken in this regard.
Fraternity reactions
Journalists, meanwhile, are demanding Patil's resignation and the suspension of City Police chief Aroop Patnaik.
Senior journalist Jatin Desai claims Dey had submitted a report to the Home Minister about some police officials who allegedly had links with the underworld, but no action was taken. President of Television Journalists' Association, Shashikant Sandhbor, said that Dey's murder proved the existence of the police-underworld nexus in the city.u00a0 Aniket Joshi, President, Mantralaya and Vidhi Mandal Varthahar Sangh, demanded protection to crime reporters.
In a statement, the Press Club, Mumbai said that the killing underlined the increasing threat faced by investigative journalists from powerful political and business interests who indulged in illegal activities.
TN Ninal, President of the Editors Guild: We deplore the law enforcement agencies' inability to protect the life of a journalist engaged in carrying out his professional duties at great risk to himself.
Political reactions
PWD Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, a friend of Dey, said he was "saddened". "I knew him for years. With his jovial and enthusiastic nature, he had established himself with his investigative stories on the crime world."
Eknath Khadse, Leader of the Opposition condemned the murder as an attack on the media. "We will talk to the CM about bringing justice to Dey," he said.
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