Graham Staines’s Killer Mahendra Hembram Released from jail
Mahendra Hembram, one of the men convicted for the brutal 1999 murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two young sons, has been released from prison after serving 25 years of a life sentence. His freedom, granted on April 16, has sparked outrage across India and abroad, especially given the controversial circumstances surrounding his release.
Hembram, now 50, was met with a hero’s welcome by his supporters in Keonjhar, Odisha, where he had been imprisoned. The sight of Hembram garlanded by well-wishers chanting Hindu nationalist slogans has deeply disturbed religious and human rights advocates, many of whom see this as a troubling celebration of a murderer.
“The celebration of a murderer is deeply disturbing and dishonors the memory of the victims,” said Ajay Singh, a Catholic priest and activist.
The Crime That Shocked the World: On the night of January 22, 1999, Graham Staines, a 58-year-old missionary who had dedicated his life to serving leprosy patients in India since 1965, and his two young sons, Philip (10) and Timothy (6), were burned alive in their station wagon in Manoharpur village, Keonjhar District. The family was staying in the vehicle outside a church when a mob led by Hembram and the ringleader, Dara Singh, surrounded the vehicle.
The attackers doused the car with kerosene and set it ablaze, blocking the victims from escaping with wooden poles. The horrific crime was reportedly motivated by accusations that Staines was converting tribal people to Christianity. The murder was widely condemned, including by then-President K.R. Narayanan, and it drew international outrage.
In 2003, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court sentenced Dara Singh to death, which was later commuted to life imprisonment, and Mahendra Hembram, along with 11 other men, to life terms. Several co-accused were acquitted. During his trial, Hembram had claimed sole responsibility for the killings.
ALSO READ: IMF Urges Nigeria to Boost Tax Revenue and Fight Tax Evasion
On April 16, 2024, after serving 25 years of his sentence, Hembram was released from Keonjhar Jail following a review by the Odisha State Sentence Review Board. His release was granted based on the assertion of “good behavior” during his time in prison. Jail officials confirmed that the release followed official protocols, and Hembram was even given a passbook detailing earnings from his prison labor.
However, the public reaction to his release has been intense and controversial. Supporters of Hembram celebrated his freedom with garlands and chants, which critics have called deeply insensitive to the victims’ families and the larger community.
“This is not just about a release—it’s about what message such a celebration sends,” said John Dayal, a prominent leader in the United Christian Forum, a religious rights group.
Spotlight on Dara Singh: Hembram’s release has also brought renewed attention to the case of Dara Singh, the ringleader of the murderous mob, who remains incarcerated for the Staines killings and two other hate crimes. Singh’s remission plea is currently under review, with the Supreme Court instructing the Odisha government to make a decision by early May 2024.
Singh’s lawyer has argued that he should be released after serving 24 years, citing the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to release A.G. Perarivalan, convicted in the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, as a precedent. The defense claims that Singh, driven by youthful rage, has repented for his actions. The petition also seeks leniency based on procedural parity, given Perarivalan’s remission.
The release of Hembram and the potential release of Singh have sparked widespread criticism both domestically and internationally. Indian political figures, human rights activists, and religious leaders have decried the actions of the Odisha State Sentence Review Board and the public celebration of Hembram’s release.
Congressman Manickam Tagore posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “A hate-fueled murderer… is now walking free. This is a dark stain on Indian justice.”
ALSO READ: Kidnapped Rev. Father Ibrahim Amos Regains His Freedom
Religious rights group Open Doors has ranked India 11th globally for Christian persecution in 2025, a significant drop from 31st in 2013. Many critics argue that rising Hindu nationalism, particularly under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is fostering an environment of religious intolerance.
“The release of Hembram and the potential release of Singh under the current political climate highlight growing intolerance,” said John Dayal. “It’s a painful reminder of how far we’ve strayed from justice and reconciliation.”
Christian communities in India, while not opposed to parole or legal remission in principle, have expressed alarm that crimes of such brutality are being trivialized and celebrated. The Christian community has stressed that the nature of the crime committed against the Staines family should never be forgotten or minimized.
The release of Mahendra Hembram and the potential release of Dara Singh have reignited debates about justice, reconciliation, and the growing intolerance faced by religious minorities in India. For many, it is a painful reminder that the ideals of justice and accountability are being overshadowed by political agendas and rising religious extremism.
For now, the victims’ families, human rights groups, and religious advocates continue to call for justice and seek closure for the brutal crime that forever changed the lives of the Staines family and their loved ones. The fight for accountability remains ongoing in the face of a political climate that seems to be increasingly hostile toward religious minorities.
Content Credit: Agbetan Bisola
Image Credit: christianpost.com
