Sonawane murder: Crackdown on oil mafia; over 180 arrested

Mumbai/New Delhi, Jan 27 (PTI) Authorities launched amassive crackdown on oil adulteration mafia across Maharashtratoday raiding 200 places and arresting around 180 people afteran official was burnt alive while the Centre unveiled steps toreduce scope for diversion of subsidised kerosene.

Over 80,000 gazetted officers in Maharashtra alsoceased work for the day to protest the killing of MalegaonAdditional District Collector Yashwant Sonawane by suspectedmembers of the oil mafia at Manmad in Nashik district, about260 kms from Mumbai, on Tuesday.

"So far, more than 180 persons have been arrestedduring the raids at nearly 200 oil adulteration locations inthe state," Additional Director General (Law