Thaindian News

Mumbai, Jan 27 (IANS) The widow of Nashik additional collector Yashwant Sonawane Thursday sought a CBI probe into her husband’s killing as authorities cracked down on oil adulterators amid a state-wide strike by 1.80 million government employees stunned by Sonawane’s horrific murder.Vijaya said she had no faith in the Maharashtra Police and an impartial probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) would alone unravel the conspiracy behind her husband’s killing Tuesday.

“There is a conspiracy behind my husband’s killing. An impartial probe by CBI must be ordered to bring out the truth. I have no faith in the state police,” the woman told reporters.

Sonawane, 44, was doused with kerosene and burnt to death Tuesday in Panewadi, near Manmad in Nashik district, when he was set to raid a fuel mafia suspected of pilfering kerosene from tankers.

The gruesome murder has shocked a nation bogged down by corruption scandals. In Maharashtra, anger over the murder sparked a wildcat strike by angry government officials.

The Mantralaya, the state government headquarters here, as well as all government offices all over the sprawling state were deserted Thursday as employees kept away from work to protest Sonawane’s killing.

Besides Mumbai, the most vocal demonstrations took place in Nashik, Nagpur, Pune, Aurangabad, Solapur, Osmanabad, Thane and Satara.

In many places, employees took out processions demanding strict punishment to the killers. They wore black bands and waved black flags, Maharashtra Gazzetted Officers Association president G.D. Kulthe told IANS.

Raising slogans like “Yashwant Sonawane amar rahe”, the employees criticized the government for failing to protect an employee widely seen as sincere and honest.

Kulthe demanded that his killers should be tried in a fast track court.

Police have arrested all the 11 accused. They have been remanded to police custody till Feb 8.

The city of Manmad observed a shutdown. Schools, colleges, shops and offices remained closed.

Cracking down on the oil mafia Thursday, authorities carried out raids in 200 places and arrested over 170 people involved in oil adulteration, Additional Director General of Police K.P. Raghuvanshi said.

The government carried out simultaneous raids on oil and milk adulterators as well as the sand mafia across the state Thursday.

“Talking of oil mafia, there are certain organised groups active in the area where Sonawane was killed,” Raghuvanshi said.

The raids were initiated by various departments under police protection and targeted oil and petrol, milk and edible oil and sand mafia in parts of the state.

The raids took place in Thane, Nashik, Nagpur, Aurangabad and other cities.

Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil said there was no proof of political involvement in the adulteration rackets.