M A I N   N E W S

Malegaon officer burnt alive by oil mafia
Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service

Mumbai, January 25
The Additional District Collector of Malegaon, Yashwant Sonawane, was burnt alive today after he chanced upon kerosene and other fuel being siphoned off tankers belonging to public sector oil companies, the police said here today.

The incident happened around 11.30 am when Sonawane was proceeding to attend a meeting of local self-government officers at Nandgaon some distance away, say sources. On reaching Manmad near the Panewadi area where the oil depots are located, Sonawane, who was accompanied only by his driver and a personal assistant, spotted some oil tankers parked near a roadside dhaba close to the depots belonging to the Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petrolem and Bharat Petroleum.

Sonawane got off from his car and began questioning the drivers of the vehicles when he was accosted by one Popat Shinde and his henchmen who are allegedly involved in adulterating petrol, diesel and kerosene, the police said. After a verbal argument, Sonawane was allegedly beaten up by Shinde and his goons after which they poured fuel oil on him and set him afire, the police said. Sonawane was not accompanied by any security personnel when the incident occurred, the police said.

Sonawane’s body kept lying on the road for several hours before the local administration made arrangements to move it to a hospital.

Shinde has been arrested along with three others while the rest of his accomplices are absconding, the police said. Shinde, who sustained more than 80 per cent burns, has been admitted to hospital, the police added.

According to officials from oil companies here, Malegaon is notorious for adulteration of petrol, diesel and kerosene and the local administration has been asked to keep an eye on movement of tankers.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra State Gazetted Officers Association has threatened a strike on January 27 to protest the incident. The officers are demanding that they be given security when they venture out into the field.