S. Gangaya, the prime accused and alleged mastermind in the murder of journalist Sahadev Dey, died at G.B. Pant Hospital here on the evening of December 25. Police sources said Gangaya had been undergoing treatment for a prolonged illness while in judicial custody. His death comes nearly nine months after the killing that sent shockwaves across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and triggered widespread concern over the safety of journalists.
Gangaya had been arrested earlier this year in connection with the murder of Sahadev Dey, founder of the local digital news platform News Republic Andaman. Dey was found murdered on March 29, 2025, at Diglipur in North and Middle Andaman. The case drew island-wide attention due to the brutality of the crime and the victim’s role as a journalist reporting on local issues.
According to investigators, Gangaya was identified as the chief conspirator who planned and executed the murder with the help of three other accused. Those arrested in the case include A. Ramasubramaniyan (47) of Sivagangai district in Tamil Nadu, Bithika Mallick (38), a resident of Kalipur in Diglipur, and M. Ramesh (45), a mason originally from Ramanathapuram district in Tamil Nadu, who was residing at D.B. Gram at the time of the incident.
Police investigations revealed that after Sahadev Dey was killed, the accused allegedly transported his body to an under-construction hotel site at D.B. Gram, owned by Gangaya. The body was then set on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence and mislead investigators. Officials stated that the accused made elaborate efforts to conceal the crime, but the plan failed due to swift investigative action and scientific analysis.
A special police team, along with forensic experts, was rushed to Diglipur soon after the case was registered. Using technical and scientific methods, investigators were able to identify the precise crime scene and collect key evidence. Items recovered during the investigation included the suspected murder weapon, clothes worn by the accused at the time of the crime, and the journalist’s mobile phone and bag. Police officials had earlier said that these recoveries played a crucial role in piecing together the sequence of events and establishing the involvement of the accused.
In an official press statement issued earlier in the investigation, the police had named Gangaya as the main accused and chief conspirator behind the murder. The statement said the crime was premeditated and carried out in a planned manner, leading to the arrest of all four accused within weeks of the incident.
Sources indicated that Gangaya’s health had been deteriorating for some time while he was in custody. He was shifted to G.B. Pant Hospital for treatment, where he died on December 25. Hospital and police authorities have stated that a post-mortem examination is scheduled to be conducted to ascertain the exact cause of death, following standard legal procedures.
The death of the prime accused has once again brought the case into focus, particularly among members of the journalist community in the Islands. Sahadev Dey’s murder had earlier triggered protests and demands for strict action against those responsible, with journalists’ associations and civil society groups calling for stronger safeguards for media professionals working in the region.
Police officials said legal proceedings against the remaining accused will continue as per law. Further details regarding Gangaya’s death are expected after the post-mortem report is received.
The murder of Sahadev Dey remains one of the most serious crimes against a journalist in the recent history of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, leaving a lasting impact on the local media fraternity and public discourse on press freedom and safety.
