India minister faces arrest in Jamtara Muslim massacre trial

By: Nizam Hussain

NEW DELHI, India: An arrest warrant has been issued for an India's minister for alleged contribution in a 1975 Muslims massacre, according to officials.

Monday's announcement will be a setback for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is under attack from the opposition for taking cabinet colleagues facing criminal charges.

The warrant for coal minister Sibu Soren's arrest was issued in his hometown of Ranchi in Jharkhand state at the weekend.

The tribal politician, who belongs to the regional Jharkhand Mukti Morcha party, has been accused of involvement in the murder of 10 Muslims during a campaign to boot out Muslim settlers in the region who had fled Bangladesh.

Police superintendent S.N. Jha of the town of Jamtara, where the massacre occurred almost three decade ago, said the non-bailable warrant was mailed on Sunday to the Indian capital for the arrest of the controversial politician.

Twenty-five of the 65 people accused of involvement in the massacre have already died and so have 20 witnesses for the prosecution.

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