Maha govt employees go on strike over Sonawane''s murder

Mumbai, Jan 27 (PTI) Over 15 lakh state governmentemployees today went on a strike protesting the brutal murderof Additional District Collector Yashwant Sonawane in Nashikdistrict two days ago.

"Over 15 lakh gazetted and non-gazetted employees ofMaharashtra government went on strike to protest the killingof Sonawane. We have demanded strict punishment for the oilmafia who dared to set ablaze one of our officers," G DKulthe, General Secretary of Maharashtra State GazettedOfficers Association, said.

District-level employees too held rallies and took outprocessions, demanding protection for government staffinvolved in risky jobs, Kulthe said.

The staff at Mantralaya (state secretariat) held a protestmeeting. The employees had met Chief Minister PrithvirajChavan and Home Minister R R Patil yesterday and submitted amemorandum of their demands.

"We met the Chief Minister and he promised a high-levelprobe into the incident. Patil also told us that security willbe provided to government officers," he said.

Yashwant Sonawane was burnt alive by suspected members oflocal oil adulteration cartel near Manmad in Nashik districton January 25.