Old page wikitext, before the edit (old_wikitext) | '{{Dablink|This article is about the convicted murderer. For the wrestler and film actor from Punjab, see [[Dara Singh]] October 1962 - July 2012.}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2011}}
'''Ravinder Kumar Pal''';(2 October 1962 - 12 July 2012) is a person who was convicted for leading the religious mob who murdered [[Australian]] [[Christian]] [[missionary]] [[Graham Staines]] and his two sons, Philip (aged 10) and Timothy (aged 6) on 22 January 1999. The Staines were sleeping in their station wagon at [[Manoharpur]] village in [[Keonjhar]] district (about 400 km from [[Bhubaneswar]]), [[India]] when the militants attacked and set the vehicle on fire, prevented even the children from escaping and murdered all three.
Singh was earlier involved in the [[cow protection movement]] of the [[Bajrang Dal]] and had earlier targeted Muslim cattle traders. The [[Wadhwa Commission]] stated that the Bajrang Dal was not involved in the murder of Staines, justifying its non-examination of the role of the Bajrang Dal on the grounds that the Dal was a peaceful and legal organisation.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2021/stories/20031024003902400.htm|title=The Staines case verdict|last=Venkatesan|first=V.|journal=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline Magazine]]|date=October 11–23, 2003|volume=20|issue=21|work=HinduOnNet.com|accessdate=2010-10-11}}</ref>
Singh was also charged in the killing of Muslim trader Shaikh Rehman at Padibeda village in [[Karanjia]] sub-division of [[Mayurbhanj district]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99sep27/nation.htm#4|title=Dara's aide casts vote|newspaper=[[The Tribune]]|date=1999-09-26|work=TribuneIndia.com|accessdate=2010-10-11}}</ref> and in the murder of a Christian cleric, Arul Das, in Jamboni village in the same district. Das was killed by an arrow as he was escaping after his church was set on fire. Singh is widely perceived by [[Hindutva]] activists to be the [[Sangh Parivar]]'s most lethal and violent figures and lauded by them as the ''Hindu Dharma Rakshak'' (Defender of the Hindu faith).<ref name="Chatterji"/>
==Background==
Dara Singh was born as Ravinder Kumar Pal, the son of Mihilal Pal of Kokara, [[Itawah]], [[Uttar Pradesh]] and stayed for a brief period in [[Delhi]], before coming to Baliposhi, [[Orissa]] in 1989.<ref name="Chatterji">{{harvnb|Chatterji|2009|pp=126–127}}</ref> It has been alleged that over time he became associated with the [[Bajrang Dal]] and launched a campaign against cow slaughter and religious conversions. Singh's base of operations was the relatively affluent [[Padiabeda]] village in [[Mayurbhanj district]], a Hindu nationalist stronghold.<ref name="Chatterji"/> He was charged in several cases where trucks carrying cows to slaughter had been hijacked and looted. By redistributing these cows among the locals, he had achieved a degree of popularity among the tribals, and was also becoming a political figure. He had a small loyal band that was increasingly involved in violent opposition to what they perceived as anti-Hindu forces.
In September 1998, a cattle truck was looted and torched, and the trucker's assistant, Shaikh Imam was battered to death in Godabhanga Ghati in the Mayurbhanj district.<ref name="Chatterji"/> Singh was charged in this case and eventually exonerated by the Baripada District and Session's Court in Mayurbhanj district on October 2006, due to lack of sufficient evidence and hostile witnesses.<ref name="Chatterji"/>
On 26 November 1999, Shaikh Rahman, a Muslim garment merchant was tortured and had his hands severed, before being burned to death at Padiabeda village. The body was then set aflame and incinerated, to prevent his family members from recovering it.<ref name="Chatterji"/> The incident occurred near the Thakurmunda police station in the district.<ref name="Chatterji"/> Singh and his associate, Buluram Mohanty was indicted in connection with this killing. In October 2007, the Baripada District and Sessions Court in Mayurbhanj district, convicted Singh of Rahman's murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment, while acquitting 23 others on grounds of insufficient evidence.<ref name="Chatterji"/>
In September 1999, Catholic priest Arul Das was murdered in [[Jamabani]] village in Mayurbhanj district.<ref name="Staines"/> Singh was charged in this case as well, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in September 2007, along with associates Chena Hao, Rajkishore Mohanta, and Jadunath Mohanta.<ref name="Staines">{{harvnb|Chatterji|2009|pp=251–253}}</ref>
==Staines' murder==
{{rquote|right|Dara Singh, who burned Christian missionary Staines at Orissa few years ago, is a role model to us. There are many Dara Singhs in [[Kundapura|Kundapur]] who can foil the attempt to convert.| Krishnaprasad Adyanthaya, managing trustee of Sri Mookambika Temple in [[Kollur]], [[Dakshina Kannada]] district, [[Karnataka]] (July 2007)<ref name="Chatterji"/>}}
On 22 January 1999, a mob of Hindu [[Adivasi]]s led by Singh attacked the station wagon inhabited by Graham Staines and his two sons, Philip (aged 10) and Timothy (aged 6) at Manoharpur village in Keonjhar district.<ref name="Staines"/> Chanting ''Jai Bajarang Bali'', the mob set fire to the station wagon and the Staines' were burned to death.<ref name="Staines"/>
Other perpetrators in the killing of Graham Staines included Bhimasen Mahanta, Rajat Das, Mahendra Hembram and Chenchu Hansda (a minor). The CBI had chargesheeted total 18 persons in the case in June 1999, saying there was a ''prima facie'' case against the accused for commission of the offence under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. Of those formally sentenced to life imprisonment, only Hembram was acquitted.<ref name="Staines"/> In September 2003, the Khordha Sessions Court sentenced Singh to death for his role in the murders.<ref name="Staines"/>
Subsequent to his arrest, his supporters formed several organisations, including Dara Singh Parijan Suraksha Samiti (Council for Aiding the Family of Dara Singh), Dharmarakhyak Sri Dara Singh Bachao Samiti (Committee to defend Dara Singh, the Protector of our Religion), Dharmarakshak Dara Singh Sahayta Samiti (Committee to assist Dara Singh, the Protector of our Religion) and Dara Sena (Dara's Army), claiming to espouse his cause. These groups describe him as the saviour of Hinduism. There was also a "Free Dara Singh" website.<ref>[http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/free_dara_singh/index.htm&date=2009-10-25+22:23:03 Free Dara Singh website]</ref> Several small booklets with titles like ''Mono Ku Chhui Gola'' (He Has Touched Our Hearts), or ''Mu Dara Singh Kahuchi'' (This is Dara Singh Speaking), eulogising Dara and criticising the activities of Staines and other Christian missionaries, are circulating in the region.
==Supreme Court Verdict==
In May 2005, the [[Orissa]] High Court set aside the death sentence, stating that it could not be demonstrated that any specific action by Singh himself had caused the deaths.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/may/19staines.htm|title=Staines murder: Dara Singh's death sentence commuted to life term|publisher=Rediff.com|date=2005-05-19|accessdate=2010-10-11}}</ref> On 19 March 2007, the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] issued notice to the CBI on a petition filed by Mahendra Hembram challenging the Orissa High Court verdict,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=31613&n_tit=SC+Issues+Notice+to+CBI+in+Staines+Murder+Case+|title=Supreme Court issues notice to CBI in Staines case|publisher=DaijiWorld.com|date=2007-03-20|accessdate=2010-10-11}}</ref> saying that his confessional statement before the trial court, in which he had said that he killed Graham Staines, should be considered in total.
In August 2005, Singh filed a special leave petition with the apex court, seeking acquittal. He asserted that his case was based on hearsay and circumstantial evidence, claiming that he had not led the killings.<ref name="Staines"/> The Supreme Court of India admitted his appeal in October 2005.<ref name="Staines"/> In February 2007, Singh petitioned the Supreme Court to release him on bail, stating that he was the primary livelihood earner in his family, including his dependent 75 year old mother.<ref name="Staines"/> In October 2007, his petition was denied by the Supreme Court.<ref name="Staines"/>
The Supreme Court upheld the verdict of life imprisonment for Dara Singh, the chief accused, on 21 January 2011. The Supreme Court dismissed the CBI's call for the death penalty, explaining that the death penalty could only be imposed in the "rarest of rare" cases <ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/No-death-for-Dara-Singh-in-Staines-case-SC-upholds-life-term/articleshow/7332083.cms|title=No death for Dara Singh in Staines case; SC upholds life term|publisher=Times of India|date=2011-01-21|accessdate=2011-01-21}}</ref>
The Supreme Court bench of Justices P. Sathasivam and B. S. Chauhan stated "Though Graham Staines and his two minor sons were burnt to death while they were sleeping inside a station wagon at Manoharpur, the intention was to teach a lesson to Staines about his religious activities, namely, converting poor tribals to Christianity". The Court stated "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 and worship." Yet, condemning religious conversions, the Court also said "It is undisputed that there is no justification for interfering in someone`s belief by way of `use of force`, provocation, conversion, incitement or upon a flawed premise that one religion is better than the other". <ref>{{cite news| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/No-death-for-Dara-Singh-in-Staines-case-SC-upholds-life-term/articleshow/7332083.cms | work=The Times Of India | title=Life term adequate for Staines murder convicts: SC | date=21 January 2011}}</ref> <ref>http://judis.nic.in/supremecourt/chejudis.asp RABINDRA KR. PAL @ DARA SINGH Vs. REPUBLIC OF INDIA, Jan 21, 2011</ref>
==Illness in July 2012==
He was admitted in Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital on July 7th 2012 following a cardiac arrest. <ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.indianexpress.com/news/dara-singh-suffers-brain-damage-doctors-say-less-chance-of-recovery/973030/| title= Dara Singh suffers brain damage, doctors say 'less chance' of recovery| date= 11 July 2012}}</ref> His family took him home as there was very little chance of his recovery.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Dara-Singh-taken-home-doctors-say-less-chance-of-recovery/Article1-887286.aspx | title= Dara Singh taken home, doctors say less chance of recovery| date= 12 July 2012}}</ref> In the late hours of 11 July 2012, he was released from hospital in deference to the wishes of his family and shifted to his residence. He passed away on 12 July 2012. at 7.30 am. <ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article3630394.ece| title= Actor Dara Singh passes away | date= 12 July 2012}}</ref><ref name="ZN-20120712">{{cite news|url=http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/celebrity/dara-singh-shifted-home-still-on-ventilator_115092.htm|title=Dara Singh shifted home, still on ventilator |date=2012-07-12|publisher=Zee News Limited|accessdate=12 July 2012|location=Noida}}</ref>
==DEATH==
Dara Singh Died of cardiac arrest on 12 July 2012.
==Citations==
{{Reflist}}
he is not well from the past days
==References==
{{refbegin|2}}
*{{cite journal
| last = Banerjee
| first = Ruben
| title = In the Land of Dara
| date = 1999-09-20
| journal = [[India Today]]
| work = India-Today.com
| url = http://www.india-today.com/itoday/19990920/cover.html
| accessdate = 2010-10-11}}
*{{Cite book
|year=2009
|last=Chatterji
|first=Angana P.
|title=Violent gods: Hindu nationalism in India's present : narratives from Orissa
|publisher= Three Essays Collective
|location=Gurgaon, India
|isbn=81-88789-67-4
|ref=harv
|postscript=<!--None-->}}.
{{refend}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Singh, Dara
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Singh, Ravinder Pal
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Indian Hindu extremist and convicted murderer
| DATE OF BIRTH = 2 October 1962
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Dara}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Murder in 1999]]
[[Category:1999 in India]]
[[Category:Indian people convicted of murder]]
[[Category:People convicted of murder by India]]
[[Category:Indian prisoners sentenced to death]]
[[Category:Prisoners sentenced to death by India]]
[[Category:Far-right politics in India]]' |
New page wikitext, after the edit (new_wikitext) | '{{Dablink|This article is about the convicted murderer. For the wrestler and film actor from Punjab, see [[Dara Singh]] October 1962 - July 2012.}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2011}}
'''Ravinder Kumar Pal''';(2 October 1962 - 12 July 2012) is a person who was convicted for leading the religious mob who murdered [[Australian]] [[Christian]] [[missionary]] [[Graham Staines]] and his two sons, Philip (aged 10) and Timothy (aged 6) on 22 January 1999. The Staines were sleeping in their station wagon at [[Manoharpur]] village in [[Keonjhar]] district (about 400 km from [[Bhubaneswar]]), [[India]] when the militants attacked and set the vehicle on fire, prevented even the children from escaping and murdered all three.
Singh was earlier involved in the [[cow protection movement]] of the [[Bajrang Dal]] and had earlier targeted Muslim cattle traders. The [[Wadhwa Commission]] stated that the Bajrang Dal was not involved in the murder of Staines, justifying its non-examination of the role of the Bajrang Dal on the grounds that the Dal was a peaceful and legal organisation.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2021/stories/20031024003902400.htm|title=The Staines case verdict|last=Venkatesan|first=V.|journal=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline Magazine]]|date=October 11–23, 2003|volume=20|issue=21|work=HinduOnNet.com|accessdate=2010-10-11}}</ref>
Singh was also charged in the killing of Muslim trader Shaikh Rehman at Padibeda village in [[Karanjia]] sub-division of [[Mayurbhanj district]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99sep27/nation.htm#4|title=Dara's aide casts vote|newspaper=[[The Tribune]]|date=1999-09-26|work=TribuneIndia.com|accessdate=2010-10-11}}</ref> and in the murder of a Christian cleric, Arul Das, in Jamboni village in the same district. Das was killed by an arrow as he was escaping after his church was set on fire. Singh is widely perceived by [[Hindutva]] activists to be the [[Sangh Parivar]]'s most lethal and violent figures and lauded by them as the ''Hindu Dharma Rakshak'' (Defender of the Hindu faith).<ref name="Chatterji"/>
==Background==
Dara Singh was born as Ravinder Kumar Pal, the son of Mihilal Pal of Kokara, [[Itawah]], [[Uttar Pradesh]] and stayed for a brief period in [[Delhi]], before coming to Baliposhi, [[Orissa]] in 1989.<ref name="Chatterji">{{harvnb|Chatterji|2009|pp=126–127}}</ref> It has been alleged that over time he became associated with the [[Bajrang Dal]] and launched a campaign against cow slaughter and religious conversions. Singh's base of operations was the relatively affluent [[Padiabeda]] village in [[Mayurbhanj district]], a Hindu nationalist stronghold.<ref name="Chatterji"/> He was charged in several cases where trucks carrying cows to slaughter had been hijacked and looted. By redistributing these cows among the locals, he had achieved a degree of popularity among the tribals, and was also becoming a political figure. He had a small loyal band that was increasingly involved in violent opposition to what they perceived as anti-Hindu forces.
In September 1998, a cattle truck was looted and torched, and the trucker's assistant, Shaikh Imam was battered to death in Godabhanga Ghati in the Mayurbhanj district.<ref name="Chatterji"/> Singh was charged in this case and eventually exonerated by the Baripada District and Session's Court in Mayurbhanj district on October 2006, due to lack of sufficient evidence and hostile witnesses.<ref name="Chatterji"/>
On 26 November 1999, Shaikh Rahman, a Muslim garment merchant was tortured and had his hands severed, before being burned to death at Padiabeda village. The body was then set aflame and incinerated, to prevent his family members from recovering it.<ref name="Chatterji"/> The incident occurred near the Thakurmunda police station in the district.<ref name="Chatterji"/> Singh and his associate, Buluram Mohanty was indicted in connection with this killing. In October 2007, the Baripada District and Sessions Court in Mayurbhanj district, convicted Singh of Rahman's murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment, while acquitting 23 others on grounds of insufficient evidence.<ref name="Chatterji"/>
In September 1999, Catholic priest Arul Das was murdered in [[Jamabani]] village in Mayurbhanj district.<ref name="Staines"/> Singh was charged in this case as well, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in September 2007, along with associates Chena Hao, Rajkishore Mohanta, and Jadunath Mohanta.<ref name="Staines">{{harvnb|Chatterji|2009|pp=251–253}}</ref>
==Staines' murder==
{{rquote|right|Dara Singh, who burned Christian missionary Staines at Orissa few years ago, is a role model to us. There are many Dara Singhs in [[Kundapura|Kundapur]] who can foil the attempt to convert.| Krishnaprasad Adyanthaya, managing trustee of Sri Mookambika Temple in [[Kollur]], [[Dakshina Kannada]] district, [[Karnataka]] (July 2007)<ref name="Chatterji"/>}}
On 22 January 1999, a mob of Hindu [[Adivasi]]s led by Singh attacked the station wagon inhabited by Graham Staines and his two sons, Philip (aged 10) and Timothy (aged 6) at Manoharpur village in Keonjhar district.<ref name="Staines"/> Chanting ''Jai Bajarang Bali'', the mob set fire to the station wagon and the Staines' were burned to death.<ref name="Staines"/>
Other perpetrators in the killing of Graham Staines included Bhimasen Mahanta, Rajat Das, Mahendra Hembram and Chenchu Hansda (a minor). The CBI had chargesheeted total 18 persons in the case in June 1999, saying there was a ''prima facie'' case against the accused for commission of the offence under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. Of those formally sentenced to life imprisonment, only Hembram was acquitted.<ref name="Staines"/> In September 2003, the Khordha Sessions Court sentenced Singh to death for his role in the murders.<ref name="Staines"/>
Subsequent to his arrest, his supporters formed several organisations, including Dara Singh Parijan Suraksha Samiti (Council for Aiding the Family of Dara Singh), Dharmarakhyak Sri Dara Singh Bachao Samiti (Committee to defend Dara Singh, the Protector of our Religion), Dharmarakshak Dara Singh Sahayta Samiti (Committee to assist Dara Singh, the Protector of our Religion) and Dara Sena (Dara's Army), claiming to espouse his cause. These groups describe him as the saviour of Hinduism. There was also a "Free Dara Singh" website.<ref>[http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/free_dara_singh/index.htm&date=2009-10-25+22:23:03 Free Dara Singh website]</ref> Several small booklets with titles like ''Mono Ku Chhui Gola'' (He Has Touched Our Hearts), or ''Mu Dara Singh Kahuchi'' (This is Dara Singh Speaking), eulogising Dara and criticising the activities of Staines and other Christian missionaries, are circulating in the region.
==Supreme Court Verdict==
In May 2005, the [[Orissa]] High Court set aside the death sentence, stating that it could not be demonstrated that any specific action by Singh himself had caused the deaths.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/may/19staines.htm|title=Staines murder: Dara Singh's death sentence commuted to life term|publisher=Rediff.com|date=2005-05-19|accessdate=2010-10-11}}</ref> On 19 March 2007, the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] issued notice to the CBI on a petition filed by Mahendra Hembram challenging the Orissa High Court verdict,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=31613&n_tit=SC+Issues+Notice+to+CBI+in+Staines+Murder+Case+|title=Supreme Court issues notice to CBI in Staines case|publisher=DaijiWorld.com|date=2007-03-20|accessdate=2010-10-11}}</ref> saying that his confessional statement before the trial court, in which he had said that he killed Graham Staines, should be considered in total.
In August 2005, Singh filed a special leave petition with the apex court, seeking acquittal. He asserted that his case was based on hearsay and circumstantial evidence, claiming that he had not led the killings.<ref name="Staines"/> The Supreme Court of India admitted his appeal in October 2005.<ref name="Staines"/> In February 2007, Singh petitioned the Supreme Court to release him on bail, stating that he was the primary livelihood earner in his family, including his dependent 75 year old mother.<ref name="Staines"/> In October 2007, his petition was denied by the Supreme Court.<ref name="Staines"/>
The Supreme Court upheld the verdict of life imprisonment for Dara Singh, the chief accused, on 21 January 2011. The Supreme Court dismissed the CBI's call for the death penalty, explaining that the death penalty could only be imposed in the "rarest of rare" cases <ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/No-death-for-Dara-Singh-in-Staines-case-SC-upholds-life-term/articleshow/7332083.cms|title=No death for Dara Singh in Staines case; SC upholds life term|publisher=Times of India|date=2011-01-21|accessdate=2011-01-21}}</ref>
The Supreme Court bench of Justices P. Sathasivam and B. S. Chauhan stated "Though Graham Staines and his two minor sons were burnt to death while they were sleeping inside a station wagon at Manoharpur, the intention was to teach a lesson to Staines about his religious activities, namely, converting poor tribals to Christianity". The Court stated "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 and worship." Yet, condemning religious conversions, the Court also said "It is undisputed that there is no justification for interfering in someone`s belief by way of `use of force`, provocation, conversion, incitement or upon a flawed premise that one religion is better than the other". <ref>{{cite news| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/No-death-for-Dara-Singh-in-Staines-case-SC-upholds-life-term/articleshow/7332083.cms | work=The Times Of India | title=Life term adequate for Staines murder convicts: SC | date=21 January 2011}}</ref> <ref>http://judis.nic.in/supremecourt/chejudis.asp RABINDRA KR. PAL @ DARA SINGH Vs. REPUBLIC OF INDIA, Jan 21, 2011</ref>
==References==
{{refbegin|2}}
*{{cite journal
| last = Banerjee
| first = Ruben
| title = In the Land of Dara
| date = 1999-09-20
| journal = [[India Today]]
| work = India-Today.com
| url = http://www.india-today.com/itoday/19990920/cover.html
| accessdate = 2010-10-11}}
*{{Cite book
|year=2009
|last=Chatterji
|first=Angana P.
|title=Violent gods: Hindu nationalism in India's present : narratives from Orissa
|publisher= Three Essays Collective
|location=Gurgaon, India
|isbn=81-88789-67-4
|ref=harv
|postscript=<!--None-->}}.
{{refend}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Singh, Dara
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Singh, Ravinder Pal
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Indian Hindu extremist and convicted murderer
| DATE OF BIRTH = 2 October 1962
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Dara}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Murder in 1999]]
[[Category:1999 in India]]
[[Category:Indian people convicted of murder]]
[[Category:People convicted of murder by India]]
[[Category:Indian prisoners sentenced to death]]
[[Category:Prisoners sentenced to death by India]]
[[Category:Far-right politics in India]]' |
