Sibu appears before court

Ranchi, Aug 3 (UNI) Union Coal Minister Sibu Soren today appeared before a leval court at Jamtara district regarding the three-decade-old Chirudih massacre in which 11 people were killed.

After his re-induction in the cabinet on January 29, this was Mr Soren's first appearance in the court.

During earlier hearings, his lawyer had appealed that his client be exempted from personal appearance.

First additional district and sessions judge Arun Kumar, hearing the case, warned that Mr Soren's bail might get cancelled if he failed to appear personally.

During the Jharkhand agitation in 1975 eleven people were killed on January 23 and many houses set ablaze at Chirudih village in Jamtara district.

In this connection police framed charges against 69 people, including Mr Soren, as the main accused.

On July 17 in 2004 the Jamtara court issued a warrant against Mr Soren who was then the coal minister. On July 24 he resigned from the union ministry and surrendered before the court on August 2.

He was in jail for 36 days and later granted conditional bail by Jharkhand High Court.

The next hearing has been fixed on August 21.

UNI TEAM-PRS PL YA VV1454