Govt not to intervene in Sibu's shifting to Dumka central jail

Ranchi, Jan 9 (UNI) The Jharkhand government today ruled out intervention in the shifting of former Union Coal Minister Sibu Soren to Dumka central jail from Jamtara jail allegedly violating a local court order.

With the issue turning into a direct confrontation between the court and the jail auhorities, the government made it clear that it would prefer to wait for the court's decision on the issue.

Talking to UNI here at the Secretariat, Deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi said the government would not take any action on the issue.

On January 7, Jharkhand's Inspector General (prison) Sabhapati Kushwaha told this correspondent that he had ordered the shifting in accordance with Prison Act and jail manual.

''The court's business is to remand a prisoner and my right is to decide where he should be kept. I had ordered Mr Soren to be transferred to Dumka and now only government can change it,'' he said.

When the Deputy Chief Minister's attention was brought to the point, he categorically said the government would not abide by court order only.

Meanwhile, Jamtara jail superintendent has been served a notice by the court to explain the position within five days.

During the interview the IG (prison) said the issue was being blown out of proportion due to political reasons.

He said,''My order was totally in accordance with law and in no way violated the court order. I have every right to decide where a prisoner should be kept for safety reasons. I have passed the order earlier but this time, since a politician with such a big stature is involved, the matter has been blown out of proportion.'' Mr Soren, now serving a life term in Tihar jail for murder of his personal assistant, was produced before a Jamtara court on January 5 in connection with the three-decade-old Chirudih massacre.

The court had directed to shift Soren at Jamtara jail till the next hearing on January 16 in connection with the Chirudih massacre.

Soren was brought from Tihar jail and shifted to Dumka jail on the evening of January 5.

Incidentally, Soren, who was also the chairperson of steering committee, formed to look after the functioning of the UPA-backed Madhu Koda government in Jharkhand is MP from the Dumka Parliament seat.

UNI