Condemning the killing of Malegaon additional district collector (ADC) Yashwant Sonawane, Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray on Friday alleged that oil, land and sand mafia get shelter from the government.
?Sonawane?s murder has ruined the state?s image. Even a collector level officer is not safe in Maharashtra. Then who is safe here? The Chief Minister and Home Minister must explain,? Thackeray was quoted as saying in party mouthpiece ?Saamna?.
?Corrupt and unethical practices have brought shame on the state. Oil, land and sand mafia get protection and shelter from the government,? he said.
“From milk to ghee and pickle to medicines, rice, liquor, petrol and diesel-nothing free from adulteration in Maharashtra,” Thackeray 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.