Dey killers may be local goons: Cops

Following instructions from Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan,Deys family has been given police protection,amid reports that the journalist had sensed a threat to his life owing to investigations he was conducting.

The police are investigating various theories behind Deys killing. According to Crime Branch officers,there was a mobile phone in the front pocket of Deys shirt. Although the phone was damaged due to a bullet,we have extracted the SIM card and have recovered the data. We have got the details of his calls and messages and are analysing it, said sources in the Crime Branch.

There are several theories on which the police are working,including a series of articles by Dey on the oil mafia,a recent alleged involvement of a senior police officer in the arrest of a journalist and a possible underworld hit. The police have got the details of the CCTV recordings that was placed on the gate of the building where the firing took place. But they are not clear enough to identify the shooters and know the exact sequence of events, said a police officer .

Sources in the police said that its possible that local goons were given contract to kill Dey.

The manner in which the shooters on motorcycle carried out the precise firing and fled before being caught by people suggests that they were well aware of the locality.

We are questioning local criminal elements and informers in the area, said a Crime Branch officer.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Nissar Tamboli said that the were waiting for the ballistic report. We are working on some leads, Tamboli further mentioned.