Sibu Soren fails to appear in Jamtara court

Dumka, Jan 16: Former Union Minister and jailed JMM president Sibu Soren yesterday failed to appear before a local court in connection with the 3-decade-old Chirudih massacre citing poor health as the next date of hearing was fixed on February three.

Soren's lawyer Sanjeev Kumar pleaded before Additional District Judge(First) Arun Kumar of Jamtara Court here that his client could not appear personally due to ill health.

On Sunday, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader appeared before a local court in Dumka in connection with the two-and-a-half-year-old case of violating code of conduct during parliamentary elections.

Soren, now lodged in Dumka jail, complained of chest pain last evening and was attended to by a team of doctors led by Dumka civil surgeon Dr T Hembrom.

Yesterday, after hearing his counsel's argument, the court deffered the date of hearing till February three.

The JMM leader, now serving a life term in Tihar jail, for the murder of his personal assistant, was shifted to Dumka Central jail after being produced before a Jamtara court on January 5 in connection with the Chirudih massacre in which 11 people were killed.

The court had given directions to shift him to Jamtara jail till the next hearing on January 16.

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

UNI