The Hindu : National : IOC security for field staff

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 26, 2005

National

National

IOC security for field staff

Murder of area sales officer forces rethink on inspection system

Lucknow: Following the murder of its 27-year-old area sales officer S. Manjunath in Lakhimpur Kheri on November 19, the Indian Oil Corporation has decided to provide security to its field staff. The officer was shot dead allegedly by employees of a petrol pump for trying to stop them from selling adulterated fuel.

Superintendent of Police (Lakhimpur Kheri) Zaqi Ahmed said on Friday that the police had arrested all the eight accused in the killing, including prime suspect Pawan, the son of Sulakshan Mittal who owns the petrol pump.

The others arrested included Rakesh Anand, Sanjay Awasthi, Vivek Sharma, Lallah Giri, Harish Mishra — all petrol pump employees — and Pawan's friends Rajesh Verma and Devesh Agnihotri.

Mr. Ahmed said the interrogation of the owner revealed that he was not aware of his son's "plan to kill Manjunath."

The officer's body was found in a car intercepted by police for ignoring directions to stop.

Rakesh Kumar Anand, working as a filling boy at the petrol pump, and the driver, Vivek, were arrested. During interrogation, the two `confessed' to having been `hired by Pawan Mittal.'

Risk exposed

Subodh Dakwale, vice president, Indian Oil Officers Association, said that the murder showed the risk faced by the IOC staff, especially with the involvement of the adulteration mafia in the trade.

The incident has also forced the corporation to consider changing its inspection system and modifying it to plug the loopholes which exposed the staff to unnecessary risks, he said.

The association, which has promised all help to Manjunath's family, has demanded a job for his brother in the corporation, Mr. Dakwale said.

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 of Lakhimpur Kheri.

Petition to PM

Incensed over the murder of its alumnus, students and staff of the IIM-Lucknow have petitioned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking an independent inquiry into the killing, which they said, could have serious implications for the fight against corruption.

Their online petition, signed by over 1,500 people from all walks of life, said the incident had ``serious implications on the spirit of honesty and such a sacrifice cannot be allowed to go in vain''.

Honest person

They remembered S. Manjunath as ``a very capable, honest and upright person''. On Thursday, the students and teachers held a candlelight vigil in the campus and then assembled at the entrance. — PTI, UNI

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National