Soren fail to appear before Jamtara court

Jamtara, May 21 (UNI) Incarcerated Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) president Sibu Soren today failed to appear before a Jamtara Court in connection with the three-decade-old Chirudih massacre case.

Soren's counsel informed the court of Additional District and Sessions judge Arun Kumar that his client had failed to appear following ill health.

Meanwhile, the court today recorded the statements of seven accused. The statement of Soren and 17 others would be recorded the day after tomorrow.

One of the accused had been declared an absconder.

The court said proceedings would continue if Soren fails to appear within the next two days.

Soren, facing life imprisonment for killing his personal assistant Shashi Nath Jha was brought to Jharkhand after the court issued production warrant against him in connection with Chirudih massacre which occurred on January 23, 1975, in which 11 people were killed.

In 2004 the former union coal minister had to quit the Union Cabinet following his arrest in this case. Later on he was granted conditional bail by the High Court.

At present Soren is lodged at Dumka Central jail after he was brought to Jharkhand from Tihar Central Jail of Delhi.

On previous dates also the JMM president failed to appear before the court on health grounds despite being under treatment at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences at state capital.

UNI