Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, expressed serious concern over the suspected killing of online journalist Sahadev Dey at Diglipur area of Andaman and Nicobar islands on 29 March 2025 and demanded a fair probe to identify the probable culprits and punish them under the law. Local media in Post Blair reported that Dey (35), who used to run local news channel ‘Republic Andaman’, went missing on Saturday evening from Diglipur fish market. His charred body was recovered from a field in Deshbandhu Nagar on Tuesday.
According to the police, Dey was targeted for personal feuds and four individuals (namely Gangaiah, who runs a restaurant cum bar in Diglipur, two of his staff members Ramesh and Rama Subramanian along with Bitika Mallik, a local woman) are already arrested in connection with the murder. The police authority in Post Blair however apprehended that the journalist was targeted by the concerned individuals for very personal enmities.
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“PEC learns that Sahadev Dey was vocal against illegal timber smuggling, soil cutting and hooch racket & gambling in his locality. Hence we expect a high level probe to unearth the perpetrators of the brutal crime. Being a journalist, Dey might have earned enmity from various elements and that should be brought to the public domain. We also hope that the bereaved family will be compensated by the relevant authorities,” said Blaise Lempen, president of PEC (www.pressemblem.ch/).
PEC’s south and southeast Asia representative Nava Thakuria informed that Dey becomes the third journalist to be killed in India since 1 January ( 46th media victim across the globe till date). Speaking to the PEC from Port Blair, local journalists claimed that Dey’s family members and various civil society groups were offended by the police version where his personal life (read an extramarital affair with the local lady) was dragged into the episode and they now demand a impartial probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation over the matter.
Nava Thakuria is a senior Indian journalist who contributes to various media outlets including print and digital platforms of India and across the world.