Sibu now to be kept in Jamtara jail

Jamtara, Jan 5: Former Coal Minister Sibu Soren, serving life term in Tihar jail for the murder of his personal assistant, was today ordered by a local court to be kept in Jamtara jail till next hearing on January 16 in connection with the three-decade old Chirudih massacre.

Mr Soren appeared in the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge (First) Arun Kumar at around 1200 hours and was escorted by Delhi Police.

Soren's pleader Sanjeev Kumar contended that since all cases of the former union minister were being heard at Jharkhand's Giridih, Jamtara and few other coruts he be allowed to be kept in any jail in the state.

Besides, as decision on the Shashinath Jha murder case, for which the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha supremo was serving life term in Delhi's Tihar jail, had already been pronounced the ageing leader should be permitted to be lodged in any jail in Jharkhand to attend other cases, the lawyer argued.

The court after the hearing ordered that Soren be kept in Giridih jail till January 16, the day fixed for the next hearing.

In the next hearing on January 16, Soren's statement would be recorded. Ten cartridges (6 live and 4 used), Rs 47 in cash and an iron rod used during the scuffle in Chirudih, were also produced before the court. A production warrant was issued by the Jamtara court in connection with the Chirudih massacre in which 11 people were killed.

The JMM leader is facing the charge of inciting a mob leading to the killing in 1975.

Soren resigned from the post of union coal minister in 2004 after a warrant was issued against him in this case.

UNI