Journalist's murder: Chavan says no to CBI probe

Journalist's murder: Chavan says no to CBI probe

Media persons on Monday staged a sit-in at the Mantralay premises in Mumbai to protest the rejection of the demand for a CBI probe into the murder of senior journalist Jyotirmoy Dey.

"The 15-member delegation of journalists which met the chief minister demanded a CBI enquiry, but the demand was rejected," Television Journalists' Association general secretary Prasad Kathe said on Monday.

The 56-year-old investigative journalist, who worked as Editor (Special Investigation) in Mid-Day, was shot dead by four unidentified persons in suburban Powai on 11^th June.

"We demanded that an ordinance be passed regarding (proposed) law to prevent attacks on journalists. The chief minister said he will put the draft before cabinet on June 15. The resignation from Home Minister R R Patil, and suspension of Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik were another two demands, which were also rejected," he said.

Chavan, however, assured the delegation that police had got some concrete evidence and there would be a break-through within two days.

"We will wait till June 15... (if not satisfied) journalists will start a relay hunger strike," he said, adding that, "After a week, we will move the Bombay High Court and file a petition seeking CBI probe."

Earlier, hundreds of journalists from print and electronic media participated in protest march from Patrakar Sangh to Mantralay (the state secretariat).

"The state government is sensitive to the feelings of journalists and is doing whatever it can to bring the assailants to book," Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who met the procession outside the secretariat, said.

Chavan also assured the mediapersons that he was personally monitoring the investigation.

Police release sketch of journalist J Dey's killer

Police on Monday released a sketch of one of the four killers of senior journalist Jyotirmoy Dey on the basis of description given by an eye-witnesses to the shoot-out incident.

The alleged killer, whose sketch was released, is in the 20-25 age group and of medium built, with a height of around five-and-a-half feet.

His complexion is black and he was wearing a blue raincoat at the time of the incident, police said.

Dey, who headed the crime bureau in Mid-day tabloid, was shot dead by four unidentified gunmen at Hiranandani complex in suburban Powai on 11^th June.

Police are probing whether underworld had a hand in the firing.