NEW DELHI, 19 July 2004 — A local court in Jharkhand yesterday issued an arrest warrant against union coal minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Shibu Soren in connection with the 1975 Chirrudih massacre case.
According to court sources here, Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate A.K. Mishra issued the warrants against Soren and nine others in connection with the incident which claimed 11 lives. Soren was booked in connection with the Chirrudih massacre case and subsequently arrested. However, he secured bail in 1979.
Jharkhand`s Advocate General A.K. Sinha said that in 1986 the bail was canceled by a sessions court in Jamtara district as he had not appeared in court on dates, leading the court to issue an arrest warrant against Soren.
However, the arrest warrant could not be delivered, Sinha said and added it was a matter of concern why the warrant could not be served on the JMM leader. “But technically Soren’s warrant exists,” Sinha had said.
Along with Soren, the other accused against whom the court has issued arrest warrants are: L. Hembrum, T. Hansda, Ramakant Dutta, Dulal Hembrum, Lathu Hembrum, Ludo Hansda, Modo Hansda, Sanatan Majhi and Nunulal Kisku.
The NDA has, meanwhile, demanded Soren’s resignation.
