Head of UN agency defending press freedom deplores murder of Indian journalist

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2011-06-17

The head of the United Nations agency defending press freedom today condemned the recent murder of an Indian journalist whose killing is believed to be linked to his reporting about the oil mafia in the western city of Mumbai.

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Irina Bokova urged the authorities to investigate the 11 June murder of Jyotirmoy Dey and bring the perpetrators to justice.

“This is vital if journalists are to meet their duty to serve as watchdogs reporting professionally on the work of government, civil society and business. Journalists need to be supported as they ensure that informed citizens are able to take an active part in society,” Ms. Bokova, the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), stated in a news release.

Mr. Dey was a senior journalist and special investigations editor of the daily newspaper Midday. The veteran Mumbai crime reporter had recently published articles about the city’s oil mafia.

He was shot dead as he was riding his motorcycle in a suburb of Mumbai, according to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

Source: UN News