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P. K. Das, a minister of the Church of God in Orissa, says Christians seek justice, "We are unhappy about the court's decision. I only wish justice would be done, even though I may expect or wish Dara to accept the Lord and repent, this remains only a hope."

John Dayal, too, blames the government and the investigating agency. "CBI has its own share of blame. It has not done its job well. Now the Supreme Court will decide the case on the merit of evidence."

The Hindu radicals are openly supporting Singh and have given him a hero status. "Although Gladys Staines forgave Dara as a gesture of Christian compassion, the state gave Singh the opportunity for press interviews, and he reiterated his association with Hindu fundamentalists."

Christians are questioning what signal this judgment sends to the minorities. Dayal says the cases of Christian persecution have risen in the states of Orissa, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Karnatka. "Christians are worried," he says. "Hindu radicals are forcibly reconverting Christians and threatening them to give up their faith," says Dayal.

Das deplores the situation. "Some anti-Christian political parties are openly supporting Singh for a murder. If these things are allowed to happen, I don't know what will happen to our country."

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News elsewhere includes:

Hindu who killed missionary escapes death penalty | The public prosecutor told the Guardian that the case against Singh had been "thinned" because witnesses were too scared to come forward in 1999 (The Guardian, London, May 20, 2005)

Court lifts death penalty in Staines' murder | The high court also acquitted 11 people sentenced to a life term by a lower court for burning alive Graham Staines and his two children in a remote village in the state (Reuters, May 20, 2005)

Indian court commutes death sentence of Australian missionary's killer | The ruling Thursday came in response to a plea filed by Singh to the Orissa High Court in October 2003 challenging the death sentence (AFP, May 20, 2005)

Missionary killer's sentence cut | It is still not clear why the court has now decided to commute Dara Singh's death sentence and release all but one of the others (BBC, May 20, 2005)

Missionary widow's emotional return | Gladys Staines, the Australian missionary recently awarded India's second-highest civilian honour, has been speaking about her return to the country in which her husband and children were killed in 1999 by religious extremists (BBC, May 20, 2005)

God will judge killer: Staines brother | "I don't want to see the man put to death," John Staines said from Beaudesert, south of Brisbane (AAP, Australia, May 20, 2005)

Dara Singh's death sentence set aside | But life term for Dara Singh upheld; 11 others acquitted (The Hindu, May 20, 2005)

CBI says commuting of Dara death sentence not a setback | His conviction has been upheld," CBI counsel Suryakanta Padhi said (Outlook, India, May 20, 2005)

Earlier CT coverage of the Staines includes:

Arrest made in India murder of missionary Graham Staines | Hindu radical apprehended after one year, but Christians claim state oppression now main problem. (January 31, 2000)

Weblog: 13 Hindu Extremists Convicted of Murdering Missionary Graham Staines and His Sons | India fears violence as Dara Singh and a dozen others are found guilty of murdering missionary and sons (Sept. 15, 2003)

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May (Web-only) 2005, Vol. 49