Shocked at Yashwant Sonawane murder: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said he is ?shocked? at the killing of Malegaon additional district collector (ADC) Yashwant Sonawane and would ensure such incident is nor repeated again.

?I am shocked that such an incident took place and the government must ensure that such a crime is not repeated again,? said Gandhi at a press conference here.

?If the average person wants to do good, then he or she should be allowed to be a part of the political system and change the structure for the betterment of the country. Political parties lack democracy, their doors are closed. And hence such incidents happen,? said the Gandhi scion.

?There are two ways to fight this issue. Firstly, strict and timely action should be taken and I am sure that the chief minister is committed to do so. Secondly, one must open the doors of politics, which is what I am committed towards,? he said.

Sonawane was burnt alive on Tuesday at Manmad, about 10kms from Malegaon, in Maharashtra?s Nashik district, by an oil mafia.

The ADC had stopped to check suspicious oil tankers on the road while returning from a neighbouring area when the oil black marketers, led by Shinde, attacked him and set him ablaze.

The main accused Popat Shinde is among those arrested.

Shinde also sustained burn injuries and is being treated at a hospital.

An upright officer, Sonawane was promoted as ADC after serving at a deputy collector.

His last rites were performed at Nashik on Tuesday night.

The state government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh to family of Sonawane and said his full salary will be paid to the family till his retirement.

Sonawane is survived by his wife and two children.