Mumbai, June 11 (IANS) Senior crime journalist of Mumbai-based eveninger Mid Day, Jyotindra Dey was shot dead by unidentified assailants  near Powai in northwest Mumbai here Saturday afternoon, police said.

 
 Police quoting eyewitnesses said two unidentified assailants came on a motorcycle and shot Dey, pumping three bullets in his chest before speeding away.
 
 Dey, in his late 40s, was rushed to the nearby Hiranandani Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries soon afterwards. He is survived by his wife Shobha and his mother.
 
 Condemning the murder, state Home Minister R.R. Patil said the Crime Branch will investigate the killing. “The matter will be handed over to the crime branch and we will ensure that the culprit is brought to book,” he said.
 
 Considered to be a major writer on Mumbai’s underworld, Dey had been reporting on crime in the city for the last 22 years. Before taking up crime reporting as a career, Dey was a deep sea scuba diver.
 
 Condemning his killing, Bharatiya Janata Party's Eknath Khadse, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, said that such attacks on media persons should be stopped. “The state government should take strict action to stop such attacks,” he said.
 
 Dey had wide contacts in several police departments and had broken numerous stories related to the underworld.
 
 Dey was currently holding the position of editor, investigations, in  Mid Day. He had earlier worked in the Indian Express and the Hindustan Times in Mumbai.
 
 “Dey had written extensively about the underworld and had the best sources. He was well networked and knew the underworld in and out. It's shocking to know that he was shot dead,” said a senior journalist.
 
 “Dey was soft spoken, non-interfering and kept to himself. But he would be forthcoming when it came to helping someone in crisis. He has done several mafia related breaking stories,” said another senior journalist who worked with Dey.
 
 Dey also authored two books, "Zero Dial: The Dangerous World of Informers" and "Khallas", on Mumbai’s underworld.
 
 Dey had been writing about Dawood Ibrahim and Chotta Rajan and others for a long while.