The Hindu : National : Police yet to get arrest warrant against Shibu Soren

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Monday, Jul 19, 2004

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National

Police yet to get arrest warrant against Shibu Soren

By K. Balchand

RANCHI, JULY 18. The Jamtara police is yet to receive the non-bailable arrest warrant issued against the Union Coal Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief, Shibu Soren, by the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate on Saturday in connection with a case relating to the massacre of 11 people in 1975.

According to the Jamtara SP, S. Jha, the arrest warrant could not be handed over to the police as the court's proceedings continued late into the evening on Saturday. It could now be issued on the next working day — Monday.

The SDJM, A.K. Mishra, issued the warrant against Mr. Soren and nine others when the public prosecutor prayed for the same in connection with the massacre during a JMM agitation that turned violent. As many as 69 persons had been named as accused in the case, of which 59 had been granted bail in due course, while 10 others had not appeared before the SDJM.

After the matter was raised in the Lok Sabha, the Chief Minister, Arjun Munda, denied Mr. Soren's involvement in the case but later changed his opinion saying that the matter was sub-judice and that he would not comment on it.

It was after this that the public prosecutor had moved the SDJM for a fresh warrant against Mr. Soren.

It remains to be seen if Mr. Soren takes the same route as the Bihar Chief Minister, Rabri Devi, who surrendered before the CBI special court in the disproportionate assets case before the investigating agency could obtain the warrant.

She secured a bail from the court which helped her to continue in her post.

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