Cage the jabbering parrots

J Dey's demise is not only the killing of a journalist I respected but also a brutal attack on the entire fraternity

Having worked as a reporter, and especially as a crime reporter, for a long time, the ringing of the phone always excites me. For, any phone call could be the beginning of 'the big story' that a reporter dreams to cover. But the call that a friend made to me on Saturday afternoon was disturbing. The friend simply told me that he had heard whispers about some major trouble involving J Dey. One more phone call and another friend in Mumbai confirmed that the worst had happened. "J was shot dead somewhere near Hiranandani a short while back. Don't ask for any more details because I don't have any. I am rushing there," the friend said and disconnected the call, leaving me shell-shocked. Twenty-four hours later, a mixed feeling of revulsion, anger, grief and loss still grips me. I am sure many others would have the same feelings.


Colossal loss: If the Indian Express went without his byline for a week,
everybody missed him, says former colleague Prasannakumar Keskar.
Pic/Atul Kamble

J's demise has affected me a lot. I look at it not only as the killing of a journalist I respected but also as a brutal attack on the entire fraternity, an attempt to silence all those who believe in the rule of the law and dare to stand up for basic values. For, J always stood for values. J joined the Indian Express in Mumbai in 1996.
Incidentally, I too joined Indian Express in Pune in the same year. J was not talkative, but the small professional talks we had over the phone bonded me to him. The 1990's were a time when the Mumbai underworld was trying to make inroads in Pune and I found it easy to understand the trend and modus operandi of Mumbai gangs with J's help.

Till he left Indian Express in 2004, J always remained the most consistent byline taker and each of his stories was a must-read. If the Indian Express went without his byline for a week, we missed him. His understanding of crime and criminology was exemplary and his contacts were numerous. But what fascinated me most was his fearlessness. He was a man who would not mince words, calling a spade a spade. He interviewed underworld dons and reported it extensively and still ensured that the goons were always projected as goons and not as Robin Hoods. This quality of J was unique.

Last year, J had referred to the age-old adage 'When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber' while ringing an alarm about the soaring crime graph and silence of encounter specialist. Unfortunately, the caution was ignored and the parrots have hounded the journalist eagle.u00a0 But I am sure the flight of the eagle, J, would inspire many others to cage the jabbering parrots. The statement that MiD DAY made within hours after the slaying of J is indeed a ray of hope.

--u00a0Currently working as an independent journalist, Prasannakumar Keskar in his career of 19 years in journalism has worked with the Indian Express, Intelligent Pune, Maharashtra Herald and Pune Mirror as a crime reporter and crime bureau head