Manmad, Maharashtra:
Top government officers across Maharashtra are on strike today to condemn the brazen killing of Additional Collector Yashwant Sonawane in Manmad in Maharashtra's Nasik district.
The officers, close to 15 lakh in numbers, are demanding more protection for themselves and strict punishment for those behind Sonawane's killing.
Work at district administration offices across the state is likely to be affected as a result of this. The state's secretariat is also expected to see a shortfall in attendance due to the strike.
"Employees at all departments of the state government including mantralaya, sales tax, revenue and all others will not go to office today and will be protesting by arranging rallies. We have two demands - one is full protection to the officers and employees while on duty; and second is that these mafias etc who are taking law into their hands must be punished severely," G D Kulthe, the General Secretary of the Maharashtra State Gazetted Officer's Association, told NDTV.
Sonawane was set on fire on Tuesday by the oil mafia in Manmad in Maharashtra, six hours from Mumbai. The 11th accused in the killing was arrested by the Manmad police late last night. He was traced to Rahata close to Shirdi. Six of the accused were produced in court on Wednesday.
In court, the public prosecutor said that as Additional District Collector, Sonawane was on an official tour in the area following up on a demonstration by farmers, when he saw a group of people adulterating kerosene in an oil tanker parked nearby. He reportedly stepped out of his car along with his personal assistant and driver, and began taking photographs of the tanker.
According to police, a group of 11 men turned on him, poured kerosene over him, and then set him on fire. Sonawane tried to fight back by grabbing Popat Shinde, the ringleader of his attackers. But he died within minutes. Shinde is now in a local hospital with serious burn injuries.
(Read: Who is Popat Shinde?)Raju Kale, the personal assistant of Sonawane and a prime witness in the case, said at least 10 people were involved in the attack and there was little what he and the driver could do but try and look for help.
Speaking to NDTV, Kale said, "Sir was recording the pilfering of kerosene on his mobile phone while waiting for force when he was attacked by 10 people. Police have recovered the mobile phone."
(Watch)He further added, "The motorcyclists tried to attack us as well, but we escaped. I can identify the driver of the tanker, but not the motorcyclists."
Following Sonawane's killing, raids are being conducted across Maharashtra today to nab suspects involved in oil pilfering business. Around 250 people have been arrested for adulteration in oil, milk and food items.
The murder - which took place in broad daylight and with apparently no fear of reprisal - has outraged the country, and has brought up the issue of the infamous oil mafia that operates in Manmad, an area famous for its oil depots.
Manmad is at the junction of four highways, which makes it easier for the pilferage to take place when the trucks are enroute to other towns. It is home to huge oil depots owned by companies like Indian Oil and Bharat Petroleum. Oil tankers fill up petrol, diesel or kerosene here - and are then fingered by the local mafia.
"We have ordered very strict action against wherever such activities are taking place in the state...we are going to the root of this incident...who is behind it. The main accused is being interrogated in hospital," said Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.
He added that while all officers "have standing orders not to conduct raids unless they are accompanied by police officers," Sonawane was not conducting a raid when he was killed. "The collector was on another duty and acted as a good officer," said the Chief Minister.
As Additional Collector, sources say Sonawane must have regularly run into the oil adulteration mafia that runs a strong network here. What the police is now trying to establish is whether Sonawane had initiated action against Shinde before their encounter on Tuesday.
Sonawane's colleagues remember him a dedicated and well-respected officer. A 1994 batch official from the state cadre, he had worked for 15 years before being promoted to the IAS-level rank of Additional Collector in Malegaon. In this communally-sensitive region, he worked hard to promote Hindu-Muslim unity and pushed for a branch of the Aligarh Muslim University to be set up.
He is survived by his wife and two young children. His family wants the CBI to investigate his death.