Guruji turns 63, Koda visits him in Jail

Dumka, Jan 11 (UNI) Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi today made a trip to Dumka central jail to greet the incarcerated former union minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha(JMM) president Sibu Soren on his 63rd birthday.

Scores of JMM party workers thronged the place to wish their jailed hero who they fondly call 'Guruji'.

Among other dignitaies who visited the jail were MLA Sufal Marandi besides district unit presidents of the party.

Blankets and sweets were distributed by party supporters in the jail.

Later, talking to reporters Mr Koda said he met Mr Soren and had a discussion for about 20 minutes over the present political scenario of state.

Mr Soren, now serving a life term in Tihar jail for murder of his personal assistant, was shifted to Dumka after he was produced before a Jamtara court on January 5 in connection with the three-decade-old Chirudih massacre which claimed 11 lives.

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

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

Menawhile, the Jharkhand government ruled out intervention into the controversy following shifting of Soren to Dumka central jail from Jamtara jail allegedly violating a local court order.

With the issue turning into a dierct confrontation between the court and the jail auhorities, the government made no bone about its stand that it would prefer to wait for the court's decision on the issue.

UNI