Justice for Dey: Mumbai scribes to fast from Wednesday

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Mumbai journalists will launch a relay fast from Wednesday following the Maharashtra government's refusal to hand over journalist Jyotirmoy Dey murder case probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), a media representative said here late on Tuesday.

"The chief minister (Prithviraj Chavan) refused to consider our demand for resignation of Home Minister R.R. Patil and suspension of city police commissioner Arup Patnaik. In view of this, the Patrakar Halla Virodhi Kruti Samiti has decided to continue the agitation by resorting to relay hunger strike from June 15," said Mumbai Press Club secretary Sunil Shivdasani.

He said that following the protest march by over 500 media persons Monday, the state government assured that it would bring in a law to protect journalists but refused to hand over the Dey killing probe to the CBI.

In view of the pending demands, the PHVK supporters will sit on a chain hunger strike from 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Bhavan at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai, Shivdasani said.

Chavan reiterated his stand that the probe into the killing of Mid Day journalist Jyotirmoy Dey would not be handed over to the CBI. He was speaking informally to media persons at Mantralaya, the state government headquarters in south Mumbai.

Chavan hinted that Mumbai Police have made a headway in the case. "Let us not undermine the morale of the police force. We have to give them sufficient time before we can consider other options," Chavan urged.

Dey was shot dead by four unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants near his residence in Mumbai Saturday afternoon, sending shock waves through media circles.