Do we deserve this Republic Day

On the eve of Republic Day when we were busy purchasing in Malls for the cheapest rates for articles in Big Bazaar and the like, the news were flashing in many news channels and today in Print media:-

Oil mafia burn official alive

Additional Collector Spotted Manmad Oil Theft, Tried To Stop It

 Yogesh Naik & Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: An additional collector was burnt alive on Tuesday afternoon in Manmad, near Malegaon, when he tried to call other government officials to the scene of a fuel theft.

The perpetrators doused Yashwant Sonawane (44) with kerosene and set him afire in scenes that sent shockwaves across the state.

Sonawane was found dead in a field from severe burns. But before dying he clung on to one of his attackers, Popat Shinde, making it impossible for him to flee. Shinde sustained 80% burns and is critical. He has been arrested with four others.

The gruesome killing led to home minister R R Patil ordering an immediate crackdown on the fuel mafia across the state. CM Prithviraj Chavan ordered an inquiry into the incident. He also announced a Rs 25 lakh payment to the family, payment of his salary till retirement and other compensation.

Furious gazetted officers plan a strike on Thursday. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar called it a blot on humanity. Sonawane had gone to Chandvad, where farmers had been agitating, and was proceeding towards Nandgaon when he spotted oil pilferage at Panewadi village in Manmad taluka, said Nashik divisional commissioner Jayant Gaikwad.

The place has oil depots of major companies like HPCL, BPCL and IOC. When he saw the theft outside the shop of Popat Shinde, he took video footage on his cellphone and also called local officials for a raid.

Shinde’s servant heard Sonawane calling the officials and alerted his boss. Soon, Shinde’s accomplices accosted the government official, doused him with the kerosene they were stealing and set him on fire.

“Shinde arrived on the scene and got into a heated argument with Sonawane. Shinde’s son Kunal and other servants also reached the spot,” said Gaikwad. “There were two kerosene cans of 20 litres each at the scene. One of the assailants poured the contents of a can over Sonawane and set him ablaze.

Sonawane at that point caught hold of Shinde, who sustained nearly 60% burns and is critical.”

The divisional commissioner said fuel pilferage is not uncommon in Panewadi. The oil depots in the area supply fuel to nearly 12 districts in northern Maharashtra and Marathwada.Gaikwad said Shinde had lost his wife just 10 days ago.

“We are taken aback at how he could have committed such a gory crime while in grief,” said Gaikwad. The attacker had a criminal record and had been externed once.Sonawane’s cell phone, with the video, is now with the police. The tanker from which the kerosene was being pilfered has been seized.

The additional director-general of police (law and order) said Shinde, his son Kunal, brother-inlaw Sitaram Bhalerao and their aide Raju Shirsat have been arrested for the murder.

Additional collector of Nashik Yashwant Sonawane (L) grabbed one of his assailants when he was set on fire. Popat Shinde suffered 80 per cent burns and was captured with four others.

This brave Additional Collector did die, but during those fierce pain and burning he grabbed one of the assailants and thus giving him the deserved punishment. There is little doubt, had he not grabbed one of the assailants to 80% burn injury, these mafias with there political connection and the corrupt end of judiciary would have let them free, reason as usual, absence of proof….

This is not for the first time that some god fearing and nation loving good doer guy suffered such gruesome sufferings/death, we still remember Engineer Satendra Dubey an IIT Graduate working in Koderma suffered all this all when he pointed to highway development irregularities. IIM Lucknow Grad Manjunath opened his voice for adulteration in oil pumps and suffered his life.

Where have we reached? In these 61 years of constitution, is it not the time to rethink about our constitution? Burning Alive, Killing in Public and no one knows who did it? Jessica Lal? Who did it? Where are we? Is this the time to celebrate and go back to our home enjoying holiday? Or we have to Sorrow the loss we had yesterday and rethink the truth we are facing? Is it not the money which is the root cause of all the problems? Then why Swiss Banks are still the haven of these Mafias/Corrupt Politicians? Why land mafias have enormous land in different persons name and no record is there to check them? Why today we talk about Gandhi Ji and still not believe him? If this is our India, then please stop talking of Gandhi Ji, Subhash Chandra Bose and many other our beloved developers of nation, and start praising for Kalmandi, Raja, Radia etc…

Do we still feel that we deserve this Republic Day???
:- Dr Anurag Dikshit
www.ayurvedicremedies.org