by Nava Thakuria
Geneva: The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), a global media safety and rights organization, has expressed serious concern over the suspected killing of online journalist Sahadev Dey in the Diglipur area of Andaman and Nicobar Islands on March 29, 2025. PEC has called for a thorough investigation to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.
According to local media in Post Blair, Dey, 35, who ran the local news channel ‘Republic Andaman,’ went missing on the evening of March 29 from the Diglipur fish market. His charred body was found in a field in Deshbandhu Nagar on Tuesday.
Police reports suggest that Dey was targeted due to personal disputes. Four individuals, including Gangaiah (who runs a restaurant and bar in Diglipur), two of his staff members, Ramesh and Rama Subramanian, and a local woman, Bitika Mallik, have already been arrested in connection with the murder. Authorities in Post Blair, however, suspect that Dey’s murder may have been the result of personal animosities.
“PEC has learned that Sahadev Dey was outspoken against illegal timber smuggling, soil cutting, hooch rackets, and gambling in his locality. Therefore, we expect a high-level investigation to uncover the true perpetrators of this brutal crime. As a journalist, Dey may have earned enemies from various groups, and this should be fully revealed to the public. We also hope that the bereaved family will receive compensation from the relevant authorities,” said Blaise Lempen, President of PEC (www.pressemblem.ch/).
Nava Thakuria, PEC’s representative for South and Southeast Asia, stated that Dey is the third journalist to be killed in India since January, and the 46th media victim globally this year. Local journalists, speaking to PEC from Port Blair, reported that Dey’s family members and various civil society groups were upset with the police version of events, which involved allegations about Dey’s personal life, including an extramarital affair with a local woman. They are now demanding an impartial investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
