Raids, protests after official's murder sparks outrage in India

Thu, 27 Jan 2011

New Delhi - Hundreds of thousands of government employees went on strike in India's western state of Maharashtra Thursday amid outrage over the killing of an official by members of the so-called oil mafia, officials and news reports said.

Tax official Yeshwant Sonawane was burnt alive while investigating a suspected fuel racket in Malegaon town, some 200 kilometers north-east of state capital Mumbai on Tuesday.

Administrative work was disrupted in the state as government employees and officials refused to work in protest against the killing.

"We demand adequate police protection while carrying out our duties. We also demand strict action against the killers," GD Kulthe, secretary of Maharashtra Gazetted Officers Federation, said.

"We are ceasing work today. Government employees' unions and district-level officers have also joined the protest," he added.

Meanwhile, police launched a crackdown against gangs involved in adulterating petroleum products.

As many as 250 people involved with suspected fuel rackets were arrested and the action would continue over the next few days, state officials told the NDTV network.

Kerosene, sold at subsidized rates for the poor was stolen and used to adulterate petroleum and diesel products by local "oil mafias" in a well-entrenched racket, officials said.

Sonawane's murder has exposed those crimes and drawn sharp criticism over the lawlessness in the region.

In New Delhi, Federal Oil Minister Jaipal Reddy met with senior officials to introduce policy changes to check adulteration and pilfering.

"He (Sonawane) died a martyr to the cause of an anti-adulteration drive," Reddy said announcing a compensation of 2.5 million rupees (54,844 dollars) to the bereaved family.

The police have so far arrested 11 suspected members of the adulterating gang allegedly behind Sonawane's death.

The suspects have been charged with murder, wrongful restraint and use of criminal force to deter a public servant from carrying out his duties.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/364504,murder-sparks-outrage-india.html.