Ranchi: The Jharkhand high court on today (July 29, 2004) asked Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren to surrender before the sub-divisional judicial magistrate in Jamtara before August 2.

Soren, who has been in hiding ever since a non-bailable warrant was issued against him in the Chirrudih massacre case of 1975, resigned from the Union Cabinet on July 24.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice P K Balasubramanian and Justice S J Mukhopadhya gave the direction on a petition of the JMM leader-seeking quashing of the arrest warrant.

Meanwhile Soren's son Hemant said that Sibu Soren would abide by the court order.

''Guruji will respect the High Court's order,'' Hemant told.

He, however, remained non-committal on the date of surrendering before the court as directed by the division bench of High Court in connection with the 1975 Chirrudih massacre.

According to unconfirmed reports Soren could hold a press conference in Ranchi on Saturday.