Bandh call in Beed as IAS officer who took on sand mafia transferred

IAS officer and Beed District Collector Sunil Kendrekar had taken action against illegal constructions, water tanker mafia and sand mafia during his 17-month tenure

IAS officer and Beed District Collector Sunil Kendrekar, who took action against sand mafia and illegal constructions, has been transferred sparking protests on Thursday by local activists and political parties, who called for a bandh on Friday.

Several people gathered in front of the Collector’s residence as the news of his transfer spread this morning.

Mr. Kendrekar had taken action against illegal constructions, water tanker mafia and sand mafia during his 17-month tenure here.

Activists of the youth wing of Shiv Sena burnt an effigy of Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan before the Collector’s office to protest Mr. Kendrekar’s transfer.

Shiv Sena, MNS, Bhrastachar Virodhi Jana Andolan and a few other organisations called a general strike on Friday demanding that the IAS officer be reinstated as Beed Collector.

RTI activist advocate Ajit Deshmikh alleged he was transferred because of political pressure.

Mr. Kendrekar, who was not available for comments, has been shifted to Aurangabad as Chief Administrative Officer of CIDCO.

Sources said Yavatmal district Zilla Parishad CEO Naval Kishore Ram got orders to take charge in Beed on Wednesday night.