Mumbai square to be named after slain journalist Jyotirmoy Dey

A busy square in Hiranandani Gardens, Powai will be named after the slain veteran journalist Jyotirmoy Dey, who was shot dead there on June 11, 2011.

The plaque christening the square after the scribe will be unveiled by Mayor Snehal Ambekar on July 13 in the presence of top political leaders, former ministers and present Congres MLA MA Naseem Khan and media persons.

The move to name the square in Dey's memory was initiated by the Mumbai Press Club in 2013 with the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation.

A club office-bearer, OP Tiwari, said the body approached Hiranandani Group Chairman Niranjan Hiranandani who readily agreed to the proposal. It was later routed through local municipal corporator Chandan Sharma.

The then BMC Works Committee chairperson, Krishna Parker, who also approved it, said this would be a real tribute to Dey.

The proposal wound its way to former chairperson Sunil Prabhu who accorded clearance and finally the square naming ceremony has been finalised, said club President Gurbir Singh.

Dey, 56, who was the Investigations Editor with tabloid Mid-Day was shot dead near the same square by henchmen allegedly sent by mafia don Chhota Rajan Nikhalje who was deported from Malaysia in November 2015.

Currently lodged in New Delhi's Tihar Jail, the Dey murder is among the six-dozen odd serious cases he is being tried for.

After the naming ceremony, a panel discussion on the growing attacks on media persons in the country will be held at a nearby venue.

From this year onwards, the Mumbai Press Club launched a "RedInk Veer Patrakar Award" as an additional category.

The first award in this category was given posthumously to slain journalist from Uttar Pradesh Jagendra Singh, who was killed allegedly at the behest of Uttar Pradesh minister.