def forced_unlock
      @file = nil
      if File.exist?(@file_name)
        begin
          File.delete(@file_name)
          PEROBS.log.debug "Lock file #{@file_name} has been deleted."
        rescue IOError => e
          PEROBS.log.error "Cannot delete lock file #{@file_name}: " +
            e.message
        end
      end
    end
def forced_unlock
      @file = nil
      if File.exist?(@file_name)
        begin
          File.delete(@file_name)
          PEROBS.log.debug "Lock file #{@file_name} has been deleted."
        rescue IOError => e
          PEROBS.log.error "Cannot delete lock file #{@file_name}: " +
            e.message
        end
      end
    end
Erase the lock file. It's essentially a forced unlock method.