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Manjunath's murder leaves IIM shocked

Students and faculties of IIM Lucknow chalking out protest against killing of alumnus

Lucknow: The entire Indian Institute of Management (IIM) fraternity here have expressed shock and anguish at the brutal murder of alumnus Shanmugam Manjunath, a sales manager with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC).

He was killed on Sunday last for trying to prevent a petrol pump in Lakhimpur Kheri from selling adulterated fuel to consumers.

Teachers of 27-year-old Manjunath or Machan, as he was popularly known, expressed anguish over their student paying with his life for preventing corruption.

Students and faculties of IIM Lucknow are chalking out a protest plan against the killing of the 2003 pass-out of the premier management institute.

Manjunath's college-mates knew him as a happy-go-lucky person with a ready smile and infectious enthusiasm. He was also a vocalist with the campus band, which made him a well-known face on the campus.

A native of Karnataka, the IIM-Lucknow graduate had joined the IOC in July, 2003. In October the same year he was appointed Area Sales Officer (ASO) of Lakhimpur Kheri.

Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police (Lakhimpur Kheri) Zaqi Ahmed told UNI that police have arrested all eight persons including main accused Pawan Mittal alias Monu Mittal for the murder of the 27-year-old, who had tried to prevent Mittal's father Sulakshan Mittal from selling adulterated fuel.

The others arrested included Rakesh Anand, Sanjay Awasthi, Vivek Sharma, Lallah Giri, Harish Mishra -- all petrol pump employees -- and Rajesh Verma and Devesh Agnihotri, history-sheeters and Monu's friends, Mr Ahmed said.

Mr Ahmed said in a major breakthrough, police had been able to recover a rifle. ``But the revolver apparently used in the crime was yet to be seized,'' he added. Police sources here said the government was charging the accused under the Gangster Act.

The interrogation of Sulakashan Mittal, the owner of Mittal petrol station located in Gola Gokarnnath, revealed that he did not know of his son Monu's plan to eliminate Manjunath.

On Sunday, police intercepted a car (UP 51 E 5176) in Maholi area of the district when two suspicious-looking occupants tried to speed off when directed to stop.

After a short chase, police managed to overpower the two. A search of the car led to the recovery of a body, later identified as that of Manjunath.

The arrested persons were identified as Rakesh Kumar Anand and Vivek Sharma of Lakhimpur. While Rakesh was working as a filling boy at the petrol pump, Vivek was a driver.

During interrogation, the two confessed to being hired by Monu Mittal, son of the petrol pump owner.

Manjunath's killing could be another case of silencing a potential whistleblower in a larger scam. His friends said he had spoken about improving the system of filling stations. -- UNI

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