Indian Supreme Court poised to decide release of man who led mob that burned Australian missionary family
The Supreme Court of India is close to ruling on a petition by Dara Singh, the only remaining inmate convicted for leading the 1999 mob that set fire to missionary Graham Staines and his two sons.
In 1999, a Hindu mob of about 50 people torched the car of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his six- and ten-year-old sons in Manoharpur, Odisha, killing them. Dara Singh, also identified as Rabindra Kumar Pal, was convicted as the mob's leader and received a death sentence in 2003, later commuted to life imprisonment. After serving more than 25 years, Singh lodged a petition for release in July 2024, arguing good conduct.
The Indian Supreme Court is now nearing a decision that could free him, making him the sole remaining prisoner among the 13 convicted. The case remains prominent because Gladys Staines, the missionary’s widow, has repeatedly expressed forgiveness, and the incident highlights ongoing challenges for Christians in India, where anti-conversion laws and rising Hindu nationalism have intensified persecution.
Why it matters
The ruling will determine whether a high-profile hate-crime convict can be released, reflecting India’s handling of religious violence and judicial clemency.
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