Arrest warrant against Coal Minister Soren

A court on Saturday issued an arrest warrant against Union Coal Minister Shibu Soren in connection with the 1975 Chirrudih massacre case. Court sources said, sub-divisional judicial magistrate A.K. Mishra issued the warrants against Soren and nine others. He was booked in connection with the case — which claimed 11 lives — and was arrested. However, he secured bail in 1979. Jharkhand’s advocate general A.K. Sinha said on Friday that in 1986, the bail was cancelled by a sessions court in Jamtara as Soren had not appeared in court on dates, leading it to issue the warrant against him. However, it could not be delivered, Sinha said and added that it was a matter of concern why the warrant could not be served. ‘‘But technically Soren’s warrant exists,’’ Sinha said. —(PTI)