PeterGriffin
Elite
An additional collector was burnt alive on Tuesday afternoon in Manmad, near Malegaon, on Tuesday when he tried to call other government officials to the scene of a fuel theft. The perpetrators doused Yashwant Sonawane (44) with kerosene and set him afire in scenes that sent shockwaves across the state.
Sonawane was found dead in a field from severe burns. But before dying he clung on to one of his attackers, Popat Shinde, making it impossible for him to flee. Shinde sustained 80% burns and is critical. He has been arrested with four others.
The gruesome killing led to home minister R R Patil ordering an immediate crackdown on the fuel mafia across the state. CM Prithviraj Chavan ordered an inquiry into the incident. He also announced a Rs 25 lakh payment to the family, payment of his salary till retirement and other compensation. Furious gazetted officers plan a strike on Thursday. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar called it a blot on humanity.
Sonawane had gone to Chandvad, where farmers had been agitating, and was proceeding towards Nandgaon when he spotted oil pilferage at Panewadi village in Manmad taluka, said Nashik divisional commissioner Jayant Gaikwad.
The place has oil depots of major companies like HPCL, BPCL and IOC. When he saw the theft outside the shop of Popat Shinde, he took video footage on his cellphone and also called local officials for a raid."
Shinde`s servant heard Sonawane calling the officials and alerted his boss. Soon, Shinde`s accomplices accosted the government official, doused him with the kerosene they were stealing and set him on fire.
"Shinde arrived on the scene and got into a heated argument with Sonawane. Shinde`s son Kunal and other servants also reached the spot," said Gaikwad. "There were two kerosene cans of 20 litres each at the scene. One of the assailants poured the contents of a can over Sonawane and set him ablaze. Sonawane at that point caught hold of Shinde, who sustained nearly 60% burns and is critical."
The divisional commissioner said fuel pilferage is not uncommon in Panewadi. The oil depots in the area supply fuel to nearly 12 districts in northern Maharashtra and Marathwada.
Gaikwad said Shinde had lost his wife just 10 days ago. "We are taken aback at how he could have committed such a gory crime while in grief," said Gaikwad. The attacker had a criminal record and had been externed once.
Sonawane`s cell phone, with the video, is now with the police. The tanker from which the kerosene was being pilfered has been seized.
The additional director-general of police (law and order) said Shinde, his son Kunal, brother-in-law Sitaram Bhalerao and their aide Raju Shirsat have been arrested for the murder.
Nashik collector P Velarasu said Sonawane was a low profile, hard-working officer. "Local policemen reached the spot within minutes of receiving the information. However, it was too late. Sonawane had already died," said Velarasu.
The body was taken to Nashik where the last rites will be performed. A postmortem was conducted on Tuesday evening and the funeral was scheduled for later in the night. Sonawane is survived by his wife, who lives in Malegaon, and two sons who study in Pune. Sonawane was a native of Dindori, but his parents stayed in Nashik. He had joined the government as deputy collector in 1994 and was expected to be absorbed into the IAS later.
Police and government sources said officials have known about the fuel mafia, but all action taken so far has been merely cosmetic. Food and civil supplies minister Anil Deshmukh, who is visiting Satara district, said the government will unearth the adulteration racket and take action against those behind the gruesome killing.
The CM asked revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat to reach the spot. Thorat said, "We will not hesitate to apply the strict MCOCA against the culprits."
Sonawane was found dead in a field from severe burns. But before dying he clung on to one of his attackers, Popat Shinde, making it impossible for him to flee. Shinde sustained 80% burns and is critical. He has been arrested with four others.
The gruesome killing led to home minister R R Patil ordering an immediate crackdown on the fuel mafia across the state. CM Prithviraj Chavan ordered an inquiry into the incident. He also announced a Rs 25 lakh payment to the family, payment of his salary till retirement and other compensation. Furious gazetted officers plan a strike on Thursday. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar called it a blot on humanity.
Sonawane had gone to Chandvad, where farmers had been agitating, and was proceeding towards Nandgaon when he spotted oil pilferage at Panewadi village in Manmad taluka, said Nashik divisional commissioner Jayant Gaikwad.
The place has oil depots of major companies like HPCL, BPCL and IOC. When he saw the theft outside the shop of Popat Shinde, he took video footage on his cellphone and also called local officials for a raid."
Shinde`s servant heard Sonawane calling the officials and alerted his boss. Soon, Shinde`s accomplices accosted the government official, doused him with the kerosene they were stealing and set him on fire.
"Shinde arrived on the scene and got into a heated argument with Sonawane. Shinde`s son Kunal and other servants also reached the spot," said Gaikwad. "There were two kerosene cans of 20 litres each at the scene. One of the assailants poured the contents of a can over Sonawane and set him ablaze. Sonawane at that point caught hold of Shinde, who sustained nearly 60% burns and is critical."
The divisional commissioner said fuel pilferage is not uncommon in Panewadi. The oil depots in the area supply fuel to nearly 12 districts in northern Maharashtra and Marathwada.
Gaikwad said Shinde had lost his wife just 10 days ago. "We are taken aback at how he could have committed such a gory crime while in grief," said Gaikwad. The attacker had a criminal record and had been externed once.
Sonawane`s cell phone, with the video, is now with the police. The tanker from which the kerosene was being pilfered has been seized.
The additional director-general of police (law and order) said Shinde, his son Kunal, brother-in-law Sitaram Bhalerao and their aide Raju Shirsat have been arrested for the murder.
Nashik collector P Velarasu said Sonawane was a low profile, hard-working officer. "Local policemen reached the spot within minutes of receiving the information. However, it was too late. Sonawane had already died," said Velarasu.
The body was taken to Nashik where the last rites will be performed. A postmortem was conducted on Tuesday evening and the funeral was scheduled for later in the night. Sonawane is survived by his wife, who lives in Malegaon, and two sons who study in Pune. Sonawane was a native of Dindori, but his parents stayed in Nashik. He had joined the government as deputy collector in 1994 and was expected to be absorbed into the IAS later.
Police and government sources said officials have known about the fuel mafia, but all action taken so far has been merely cosmetic. Food and civil supplies minister Anil Deshmukh, who is visiting Satara district, said the government will unearth the adulteration racket and take action against those behind the gruesome killing.
The CM asked revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat to reach the spot. Thorat said, "We will not hesitate to apply the strict MCOCA against the culprits."
Mr. Sonawane, R.I.P.
