The morning of March 29 began like any other for Sahadev Dey. He went about his day, making calls, following up on stories, and planning his next investigation.
According to police sources, Dey ran a small business and also worked as a journalist and YouTuber. A one-man operation, he moved around Diglipur town and nearby areas to report on various issues, including alleged corruption by local businessmen.
According to the police, Dey was murdered, his body burned and dumped into a swamp in Diglipur, North Andaman. What started as a missing person’s case quickly turned into a chilling crime story, with allegations of illicit relationships and blackmail emerging. But those who knew him insist that these concoctions are devoid of any truth.
On the morning of March 30, Dey’s family grew anxious when he didn’t return home. His phone was unreachable. By midday, the police were informed, and an investigation was launched. Tracing his last movements led them to Rangat, where he had gone for a meeting, but he never returned.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Shweta K. Sugathan addressed a press conference, detailing the police’s findings. She claimed that Roy had been lured to the local center of Nehru Yuva Kendra—a government-run rural youth skill development organization—in Diglipur by a woman he had known for over two years. The woman, aged 35 and a resident of R.K. Gram, allegedly had relationships with both Roy and another man, Gangaiah, a businessman building a hotel in the area.
Police claim that Dey possessed compromising videos of the woman and had used them to pressure her for sexual favors. Fearing exposure, she confided in Gangaiah. What followed, according to the police, was a plot to eliminate him.
Disappearance
On the night of March 29, Dey went to meet the woman, unaware that he was walking into a trap. He was ambushed by the woman and Rama Subramaniam, a laborer employed by Gangaiah. They attacked him, leaving him critically injured.
His body was then transported in Gangaiah’s vehicle to an under-construction hotel site. There, another suspect, M. Ramesh, also an employee at the construction site, helped burn the body. The remains were later dumped into a nearby swamp, erasing all traces of his existence—or so it was believed.
Four individuals have since been arrested, and the police continue to gather forensic evidence. But while the case appears open and shut, those who knew Dey refuse to accept this version of events.
To the police, this was a crime born out of blackmail and betrayal. But Dey’s family and friends believe otherwise.
Dey’s wife has called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry, rejecting the police’s theory as an attempt to tarnish her husband’s reputation.
Dey’s colleagues echoed her concerns. “This is character assassination. The police should be looking at his recent reports and the threats he received,” said a fellow journalist. “He was working on exposing some serious corruption cases. That’s where they should be investigating.”
A Disturbing Pattern
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have long been considered peaceful, but a disturbing trend is emerging. Murders, once rare, are becoming more frequent.
Some past cases include:
- The 2022 Kadamtala Murder: A businessman killed over a land dispute, his body buried near a construction site.
- The 2019 Middle Andaman Case: A journalist investigating corruption was found dead under suspicious circumstances. His case remains unresolved.
- The 2015 Fisherman Killing: A rivalry between fishing groups led to the murder of a community leader, triggering protests.
As the investigation unfolds, protests have erupted across Diglipur. Local leaders have demanded a CBI probe, and candlelight marches are being planned. Roy’s supporters demand transparency. His wife, family, and fellow journalists have vowed to fight until justice is served.
Meanwhile, forensic teams continue their work, yet crucial evidence—like Dey’s phone and call records—remains missing. Could these hold the key to understanding what really happened?hat really happened?
