State government staff plan protest

Prithviraj Chavan orders probe, promises strict action against culprits

Nearly 17 lakh State government employees and officers will go on strike on Thursday as a mark of protest against the killing of the Additional Collector of Nashik, Yashwant Sonawane.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan expressed shock and anger over the incident.

“We will take strict action against the anti-social elements which burnt to death an honest officer like Mr. Sonawane. I have ordered an in-depth probe,” Mr. Chavan said.

G.D. Kulthe, general secretary of the Maharashtra State Gazetted Officers' Federation, told

The Hindu: “The way one of our officers was gruesomely killed for performing his duty is utterly shocking. There is a lot of anger among all of us. We have refrained from taking any action on Wednesday because we don't want to create disturbance in the celebration of a national festival. But we will all protest against this on Thursday.”

“Except the IAS and IPS officers, all 1,10,000 gazetted officers of the State will participate in the protest march. Even the employees' unions have come forward and expressed their support. The total number of protesting government employees and officers will be around 17 lakh,” Mr. Kulthe said.

He said the federation would demand that the government provide protection for officers doing such risky jobs.

Meanwhile, revenue officials and employees in Nashik called an impromptu strike on Tuesday in protest against the killing.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Gopinath Munde said the government itself was hand-in-glove with the criminals.