Assam CM Alleges Surveillance of Ex-Jharkhand CM Champai Soren by Own Government

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has accused the Jharkhand government of placing former Jharkhand CM Champai Soren under surveillance for six months. Sarma, speaking as BJP co-in charge for Jharkhand assembly elections, described the incident as unprecedented and demanded a probe. Elections in Jharkhand are due this year.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday alleged that former Jharkhand CM Champai Soren was kept under surveillance by his own government for six months and that a befitting reply awaits the 'corrupt' JMM-led alliance in two months.

Sarma, who is also the BJP's co-in charge for the assembly elections in Jharkhand, made the accusation during a programme where Soren joined the saffron party. The ex-chief minister had resigned from the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on August 28.

'Champai Soren was put under surveillance by Jharkhand police for six months. I have never heard of such an instance by any CM. I warn you (Chief Minister Hemant Soren), we will give a befitting reply after two months,' Sarma said. He called for a thorough investigation and action against the police officials involved in the alleged surveillance.

Elections to the 81-member Jharkhand assembly are scheduled later this year, with Sarma claiming that the polls will be announced in September. Sarma accused the 'corrupt Hemant Soren government' of targeting a significant leader like Champai Soren, who was a close aide of JMM supremo Shibu Soren.

Earlier in the week, Sarma claimed that two sub-inspectors followed Soren on his Delhi trips, taking the same flights and staying in the same five-star hotels as the then JMM minister. Criticizing the JMM-Congress-RJD coalition, Sarma questioned their claims of protecting the Constitution, describing the surveillance as an intrusion on privacy. He also expressed concerns that Soren's phones might have been tapped with potential 'honey trap' plans.

(With inputs from agencies.)