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Journalism of Courage
The price of liberty is eternal vigilance,because if we dont keep our eyes open,the Hydras surviving heads will reappear,long after the monster is believed to have been slain. Mumbais streets were once an open battleground for gang wars in daylight. Police action in the 1990s systematically decimated the gangs,and the dons of the nether world moved base to foreign shores. Yet,despite its formidable stature as Indias original global city,Mumbai,sadly,remained casually and callously governed. Of late,there were signs of the gangs returning to the streets,with shootings such as the Pakmodia Street incident in which the driver of
Dawood Ibrahims brother,Iqbal Kaskar,was killed. The manner and circumstances of the murder of veteran journalist Jyotirmoy Dey on Saturday appeared to negate every doubt. It appears to be a very professional killing; the rain and the well-guarded neighbourhood only showed the determination of his killers and their indifference to the danger to themselves.
The police force itself has unlearnt its earlier alertness when information and action would be smooth and well-coordinated. While a civilian-ruled democracy should be happy to see the end of the police encounter,the information network built by the Mumbai polices erstwhile encounter specialists is in tatters. Deys murder is not just an attack on the freedom of the press; its a signal to the
Maharashtra government to buckle down and get busy with law and order. Otherwise,Mumbais streets may become increasingly dangerous once again,with thugs who dont fear for their own lives.
