Sibu fails to appear in Jamtara Court due to ill health

Dumka, Jan 16 (UNI) Former Union Minister and jailed JMM president Sibu Soren today failed to appear before a local court in connection with the three-decade-old Chirudih massacre due to poor health conditions.

The Jamtara Court has now deferred the date of hearing till February 3.

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

Yesterday, 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.

The JMM leader, now serving a life-term in Tihar jail, for the murder of his personal assistant Shashi Nath Jha, was shifted to Dumka Central jail after being produced before the Jamtara Court on January five 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 today.

UNI