Up to four unidentified men attacked Dekate on June 8 as he was riding with a friend on a motorcycle, according to The Hindu newspaper. He was pounded with rocks and died from his injuries in a hospital in Nagpur on June 10. Dekate was a reporter with the Marathi-language daily Tarun Bharat in Nagpur, central India.
Police did not cite a motive for the attack. Indian media reports said Dekate had recently written articles about illegal gambling in Takalghat village, about 19 miles (30 kilometers) from Nagpur. Takalghat has about 2,500 inhabitants. Dekate also cooperated with police from the nearest town, Bori, in their investigations, which had apparently resulted in several arrests.