JMM stages dharna after High Court terms proposed bandh as illegal

Ranchi, Dec 7 (UNI) The Jhakhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) today staged 'mahadharna' in all district headquaters and wrote to President A P J Abdul Kalam, seeking ''justice'' to former Coal Minister Shibu Soren, now serving life imprisonmnt at Tihar jail in connection with murder of his former private secretary Shashinath Jha.

The JMM resorted to the dharna all over the state after Jharkhand High Court last evening described as "illegal and unconstitutional" the party-sponsored statewide bandh, supposed to be held today.

The brief memorandum containing signatures of a large number of JMM workers expressed full faith in judiciary, but felt that ''justice'' had not been meted out to Mr Soren, also the party supremo.

In the state capital here, adressing a gathering, Deputy Chief Minister and senior JMM leader Sudhir Mahto said Mr Soren was not guilty and asserted that a ''deeper'' inquiry would certainly unearth the truth.

Meanwhile, the Congress said it would extend all moral support to the jailed JMM leader.

UNI AM-PRS SJC DB2006