Gujarat journalist murdered in office

Unidentified assailants barged into the Junagadh office of leading Gujarati daily Jai Hind on Monday night and stabbed to death its bureau chief Kishore Dave, police said.

Dave, 53, was alone when the three attackers broke into the bureau office of the newspaper located on the fourth floor of a commercial complex around 9 p.m.

Police said the assailants stabbed him to six to times and he died on the spot. His body was found in a pool of blood by an office assistant.

He is survived by two children and wife. Dave's inconsolable family and relatives alleged that the son of a former minister from the Junagadh district was responsible for the murder.

Police investigation was on.

Gujarat Media Club (GMC), an apex body of media persons in Gujarat, has condoled the death of the journalist and conveyed sympathies to the bereaved family. The requested the Gujarat government to ask the state police to immediately identify and arrest the assailants. GMC president Virendra Pandit has sought an impartial inquiry in the cold-blooded murder.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Press Club too condemned the murder of Dave and reiterated its long-pending demand for a law for protection of journalists. The MPC secretary has conveyed the members' condolences.

--IANS

desai/vd