killers escape death sentence

Christian Missionaries killers escape death sentence
21.01.2011 | 22:01 New Delhi
The Supreme Court today upheld the life sentence awarded to Dara Singh and Mahendra Hembram by the Orrisa High Court for killing a Christian Missionary and his two minor sons in 1999. Dara Singh and Mahendra Hembram were convicted by the Orrisa High Court of burning Graham Stuart Staines and his two minor sons, Philip Staines (10) and Timothy Staines (6) alive while they were sleeping in a van. In 2003, a trial court in Khurda convicted all 13 accused in the case. While Dara Singh was awarded death sentence, the others were sentenced to life in prison. In 2005, the Orissa High Court commuted Singh's sentence to life and acquitted 11 accused persons on the ground that identification by the eye-witnesses was doubtful. The convicts had approached the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order. The apex court while dismissing the appeal said “The analysis of entire materials clearly shows that the High Court is right in arriving at its conclusion. In the case on hand, there is no material to prove conspiracy charge against any of the accused.” “In a country like ours where discrimination on the ground of caste or religion is a taboo, taking lives of persons belonging to another caste or religion is bound to have a dangerous and reactive effect on the society at large. It strikes at the very root of the orderly society which the founding fathers of our Constitution dreamt of. Our concept of secularism is that the State will have no religion. The state shall treat all religions and religious groups equally and with equal respect without in any manner interfering with their individual right of religion, faith” the division bench of Justice P. Sathasivam and Justice BS Chauhan held.