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Dara Singh identified before Wadhwa panel

Three witnesses have identified the photograph of Dara Singh, prime accused in the murder of Australian missionary Graham Stewart Staines and his two sons at Manoharpur in Orissa's Keonjhar district, before the Wadhwa Commission.

Deposing before the Commission, the witnesses also said that they had seen Dara Singh at the murder site. He was then wielding an axe and a stick.

Mathai Marandi told the Commission that he had come out of his house on hearing a bang on the midnight of January 22 last. He had seen a mob attacking Staines' vehicle.

He said three of the accused rushed to him and threatened him with dire consequences if he dared to go to the murder spot. He said it was pitch dark and he could only recognise two of his fellow villagers -- Ozen and Chunchu.

The mob shouted 'Jai Bajrang Bali' and 'Dara Singh zindabad'.

The burning of the vehicle took less than 30 minutes, he stated.

UNI

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