Defence Witness claims Soren's presence in Chirudih massacre

Jamtara, Jun 18 (UNI) Former Coal minister Sibu Soren, serving jail for lifetime in Dumka Central jail for killing his personal assistant Sashinath Jha, could not be produced before a local court here in connection with the three-decade-old Chirudih massacre.

However, a defence witness's statement in the court said that Soren was present when the incident took place as he was leading a group of agitated adivasis might put the beleagured Jharkhand Mukti Morcha supremo in furher trouble.

Soren's advocate informed the court of first class additional district and sessions judge Arun kumar that his client could not appear on health grounds.

But 24 other accused appeared in the court.

During the hearing, defence witness Pasupati Dev made the startling statement that nullified Soren's alibi that the later was not present at the scene of Chirrudih incident.

However, Pasupati today said the JMM leader was very much present there and was leading a group of adivasis.

On January 23, 1975, Soren was accused of leading a group that was involved in killing 11 people at Chirudih.

Next hearing has been fixed on June 26.

UNI