Maharashtra govt officials to strike in protest against collector's murder

The Maharashtra Gazetted Officers Federation has called for a day's strike on January 27 to protest against the murder of Malegaon additional district collector Yashwant Sonawane by the petrol and diesel mafia in Manmad today.

GV Kulthe, general secretary of the federation, told the Press Trust of India that other unions will join the federation members in staging a massive protest against the "shocking" and "gruesome" incident.

"Sonawane was killed while on duty. We will come to office and then stage fierce protests all over the state," Kulthe said.

Sonawane was burnt alive by the petrol and diesel mafia at Manmad in Maharashtra's Nashik district. The incident took place at a roadside dhaba near Manmad, about 260km from Mumbai, police said here today.

Sonawane had gone there to conduct raids and search petrol and diesel tankers, police said.