Main accused in burning of Sonawane dies of injuries

MUMBAI - Popat Shinde, the main accused in the burning of Nashik district’s additional collector Yashwant Sonawane in Malegaon, succumbed to his burns at the J.J. Hospital here Monday afternoon, said a senior hospital official.

“Shinde was declared dead at 1.10 p.m. after he succumbed to more than 70 percent burns,” dean of the hospital T.P. Lahane said.

Shinde was the main accused in the killing of 44-year-old Sonawane, who was set on fire by the oil mafia near Manmad last week Tuesday.

Shinde was allegedly amongst those who poured kerosene over Sonawane when he tried to take photographs of kerosene being stolen from an oil tanker.

Sonawane reportedly grabbed Shinde during the attack, causing the burns.