MUMBAI, January 25 (PTI): An additional district collector was today burnt alive allegedly by petrol and diesel mafia at Manmad in Maharashtra’s Nashik district, police said. Additional District Collector Yashwant Sonawane was accompanied by his personal assistant and driver when the shocking incident took place at a roadside Dhaba near Manmad town, about 260 KM from here.
“Preliminary reports say Sonawane had gone there to conduct a raid on petrol and diesel mafia. There some people, believed to be associated with the mafia, who set him on fire causing his death,” Additional Director General (Law & Order) K P Rahuvanshi told PTI. Another report said Sonawane had stopped at a roadside hotel on way to a certain place to oversee security arrangements for an event when he found people adulterating fuel. Sonawane objected to it, leading to a scuffle during which he was set ablaze resulting in his death.
Sonawane was known as an upright officer who had been carrying out a crusade against the oil mafia operating in the district. In Mumbai, state Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has ordered an inquiry into the incident and has assured that that strictest possible action would be taken against the offenders.
Three detained
Three persons, including the suspected main culprit, have been detained for burning to death Mr. Sonawane, police said. “The main culprit in the incident has also sustained burn injuries and he along with two aides has been detained. Further investigations are on,” Rafeeq Shaikh, Inspector at Manmad police station, told PTI.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Gazetted Officers Federation has called for a day-long strike on January 27 to protest the murder. G.V. Kulthe, general secretary of the Federation told PTI that other unions will join the Federation members in staging a massive protest against the “shocking” and “gruesome” incident.
“Preliminary reports say Sonawane had gone there to conduct a raid on petrol and diesel mafia. There some people, believed to be associated with the mafia, who set him on fire causing his death,” Additional Director General (Law & Order) K P Rahuvanshi told PTI. Another report said Sonawane had stopped at a roadside hotel on way to a certain place to oversee security arrangements for an event when he found people adulterating fuel. Sonawane objected to it, leading to a scuffle during which he was set ablaze resulting in his death.
Sonawane was known as an upright officer who had been carrying out a crusade against the oil mafia operating in the district. In Mumbai, state Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has ordered an inquiry into the incident and has assured that that strictest possible action would be taken against the offenders.
Three detained
Three persons, including the suspected main culprit, have been detained for burning to death Mr. Sonawane, police said. “The main culprit in the incident has also sustained burn injuries and he along with two aides has been detained. Further investigations are on,” Rafeeq Shaikh, Inspector at Manmad police station, told PTI.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Gazetted Officers Federation has called for a day-long strike on January 27 to protest the murder. G.V. Kulthe, general secretary of the Federation told PTI that other unions will join the Federation members in staging a massive protest against the “shocking” and “gruesome” incident.
