Manmad, Maharashtra: "I saw my boss on fire...I tried to save him...I can identify those who were there." This is the testimony of Kailash Gawli, who worked as Yashwant Sonawane's driver and was on duty when Mr Sonawane was set on fire by the oil mafia in Manmad in Maharashtra.
Mr Gawli also confirmed the police theory that Mr Sonawane was burnt alive because he tried to film kerosene being stolen from an oil tanker on his cellphone.
11 people have been arrested for Mr Sonawane's murder.
In Maharashtra, 15 lakh government officers are on strike today to protest against Mr Sonawane's killing and to ask for better security for themselves.
In a direct consequence of Mr Sonawane's murder, close to 250 people have been arrested across Maharashtra this morning for adulterating oil, milk and food items like lentils.
The oil mafia in Manmad operates uninhibitedly. This is where nearly 300 tankers are filled everyday with fuel from massive oil depots. Manmad hosts a major intersection of four highways. From here, oil tankers make their way to Malegaon, Nashik, Aurangabad and Nagar. Drivers of the tankers are seen brazenly stealing kerosene from the trucks they drive. Tankers are locked after they are filled up, but the mafia has duplicate keys. Highway robbery is a fact of life.
It was one such operation that Mr Sonawane stumbled upon while on an official tour. He was reportedly trying to contact other government officers to ask for their help when a group of people poured kerosene all over him near a roadside stall. The mob was led by Popat Shinde, who allegedly owns two tankers himself, and has been arrested several times in the past few years for stealing kerosense. (Read: Who is Popat Shinde?)
Mr Shinde was injured in the attack he launched. He is now in a local hospital with serious burns.
The police says that Mr Gawli ran away while Mr Sonawane was on fire.
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Mr Gawli also confirmed the police theory that Mr Sonawane was burnt alive because he tried to film kerosene being stolen from an oil tanker on his cellphone.
11 people have been arrested for Mr Sonawane's murder.
In Maharashtra, 15 lakh government officers are on strike today to protest against Mr Sonawane's killing and to ask for better security for themselves.
In a direct consequence of Mr Sonawane's murder, close to 250 people have been arrested across Maharashtra this morning for adulterating oil, milk and food items like lentils.
The oil mafia in Manmad operates uninhibitedly. This is where nearly 300 tankers are filled everyday with fuel from massive oil depots. Manmad hosts a major intersection of four highways. From here, oil tankers make their way to Malegaon, Nashik, Aurangabad and Nagar. Drivers of the tankers are seen brazenly stealing kerosene from the trucks they drive. Tankers are locked after they are filled up, but the mafia has duplicate keys. Highway robbery is a fact of life.
It was one such operation that Mr Sonawane stumbled upon while on an official tour. He was reportedly trying to contact other government officers to ask for their help when a group of people poured kerosene all over him near a roadside stall. The mob was led by Popat Shinde, who allegedly owns two tankers himself, and has been arrested several times in the past few years for stealing kerosense. (Read: Who is Popat Shinde?)
Mr Shinde was injured in the attack he launched. He is now in a local hospital with serious burns.
The police says that Mr Gawli ran away while Mr Sonawane was on fire.
!
For NDTV Updates, follow us on Twitter or join us on Facebook
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