A revenue department official was burnt alive, allegedly by the local petrol and diesel mafia at Manmad in Maharashtra’s Nashik district.
According to investigators, Malegaon additional district collector Yashwant Sonawane was on his way to conduct a raid after meeting the tehsildar of Nandgaon village, accompanied by his personal assistant and driver. He spotted a few trucks parked by the roadside in front of a dhaba near the IOC, HPCL and BPCL depots.
He got off his vehicle to find out what was wrong , when he was accosted by Popat Shinde — a history sheeter running an oil, petrol and diesel smuggling racket — and his men. He was reportedly beaten by the gang and then set afire.
“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 set him on fire causing his death,” said Additional Director General (Law & Order) K P Rahuvanshi.
Police said while Shinde was arrested and admitted to a hospital with 35 per cent burns, three persons have been detained for questioning. Police have also launched a massive hunt to track the others on the run.
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has ordered an inquiry and asked the police to take stern action against the culprits. All political parties and state government officials have condemned the incident.
State public works minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who left for Malegaon, told Business Standard: “We are shocked. I had recently alerted the state police officials that the area around Malegaon and Manmad are infamous for smuggling and adulteration of petrol, diesel and kerosene. I had suggested that stern action is required to curb such rampant adulteration. I expect the police authorities to step up its drive against adulterators.”
