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Dara Singh's trial deferred in view
of his indefinite fast in jail

The trial of Dara Singh, prime accused in the murder of Australian missionary Graham Stewart Staines and his two minor sons, was adjourned on Thursday till June 11 in view of the indefinite hunger strike launched by him in Baripada jail since Tuesday.

The trial was scheduled for Thursday in the Khurda district and sessions court, but was deferred as Dara Singh could not be produced in court, the defence lawyer said.

Dara Singh had resorted to a hunger strike demanding a ceiling fan in his cell, sources in Baripada jail said.

Jail sources told rediff.com that saline was administered to Dara Singh on Thursday after his condition deteriorated.

"However, his condition is not alarming," the sources said.

"We are trying to convince Dara Singh to break the fast," Mayurbhanj District Collector D K Singh said.

Singh has been lodged in the Baripada jail since January last year when he was arrested by the Orissa police in connection with the Staines murder case.

Dara Singh's trial began on March 1 this year and some of the 15 prosecution witnesses had even identified him in court.

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