Sonawane’s burning: Maharashtra raids oil, milk adulterators

MUMBAI - The Maharashtra government carried out simultaneous raids on oil and milk adulterators and the sand mafia across the state Thursday, two days after Nashik Additional Collector Yeshwant Sonawane was allegedly burnt alive by petrol robbers, an official said.

The raids have been initiated by various departments along with police protection and are focused on the oil and petrol, milk and edible oil and sand mafia active in parts of the state, he said.

Though independent reports indicated that over 250 people have been arrested for running different types of adulteration rackets, officials declined to comment.

The raids are being carried out in Thane, Nashik, Nagpur, Aurangabad and other cities. Further details are awaited.

Sonawane was burnt to death in broad daylight by a gang of petrol robbers when he raided their premises near Manmad Tuesday afternoon.

In a related development, a majority of employees in the revenue department in Mumbai and other parts of the state went on a day’s strike to protest against the daylight burning of Sonawane.

Police have so far arrested 11 people in connection with the incident.

The Shiv Sena Thursday called for a shutdown in Manmad to protest Sonawane’s killing and demanded strict action against the culprits and the oil mafia active in the region.

Police are on high alert in the town and the entire Nashik district to prevent any untoward incident as a fallout of the official’s killing.