Mumbai, June 11: A senior investigative journalist, who extensively covered underworld and crime for over two decades, was shot dead in broad daylight Saturday by four motorbike-borne persons who pumped at least four bullets into him from behind at close range in suburban Powai.
 Jyotirmoy Dey (56), Editor (Special Investigation) with an English tabloid 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.
 Chief Minister 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.
 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.
 Dey had authored two books titled Khallas' (finished), considered a comprehensive write up on the Mumbai underworld, and 'Zero Dial: The Dangerous World of Informers".

Lastupdate on : Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 11 Jun 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 12 Jun 2011 00:00:00 IST