Mumbai:
Call it the fatal fourth. The forensic doctors who conducted the autopsy on Jyotirmoy Dey, editor of investigations, MiD DAY, said that it was the fourth bullet out of a total of five that took the top crime reporter's life. It caused internal bleeding and hemorrhagic shock.
A panel of three forensic surgeons, attached to the Department of Forensic Medicine, Grant Medical College, JJ Group of Hospitals, conducted the autopsy, which lasted for three hours.
Their findings revealed that while the first three bullets entered and exited Dey's left arm, the fourth was "lethal".
The shot, fired from the back, sent the fourth bullet ripping through his heart, puncturing his lung, and fracturing his rib. The fifth bullet exited his chest.
It was the fourth bullet that caused heavy internal bleeding and sent the senior scribe into immediate hemorrhagic shock.
"Considering Dey's good built," forensics experts said, "Had it not been for the fourth bullet which damaged his vital organs, he probably would have survived."
According to a forensics expert, "It was ascertained that the victim might have been in motion (he was riding his bike) and made an attempt to save himself, as he had sustained three bullet injuries to his left arm close to one another.
Three entry and exit wounds each at a distance of 2 cm were visible. The bullets, though, exited the arm, without causing much damage or any fracture. These injuries were not fatal."
He continued, "The fourth and the fifth bullets hit him on the back.
While the fifth one came out of the left side of his chest, the "lethal" fourth caused a lacerating wound to the aorta, before it damaged the right lung and fractured his right rib.
It found a place at the right axillary region, or the armpit, to rest, from where the surgeons retrieved it.
"The injury to the heart led to heavy internal bleeding, sending the victim in a state of hemorrhagic shock, resulting in his death," said the expert.
Another forensics surgeon added, "Had the lethal bullet hit the victim's left rib after it penetrated the body, the vital organs could have been saved from getting damaged, thereby increasing his survival chances.
"Apart from the bullet wounds, there were no other injuries. We have concluded that the death was due to hemorrhagic shock induced by firearm injuries.
"We have preserved the bullets retrieved from the body for ballistics findings, in order to ascertain the nature of the weapon used.
Also, visceral and skin samples have been preserved for chemical analyser tests, to be examined by scientists at the FSL in Kalina."
Meanwhile, ballistics experts from State Forensics Laboratory, after visiting the scene of crime in Powai, found a .32 inch revolver bullet.
This indicates that the assailants were using a factory made revolver. Dr M V Garad, the laboratory director, confirmed this.
Said a senior forensic scientist, "We'll match the seized bullet with the one retrieved from the victim's body."