Condition of Dara Singh, others stable

Bhubaneswar, July 17: The condition of Dara Singh, prime accused in the Graham Staines murder case, and six of his associates who had launched a hunger strike inside the special jail here for the last six days continued to be stable. They are taking glucose and lemon water and the jail doctor is regularly examining them, additional director general of police (prisons), B.B Mohanty told reporters today.

Dara and six of his twelve co-accused in the case had launched the hunger strike since July 12 demanding transfer of the trial judge -- M.N.Patnaik, who is the district and sessions judge, Khurda.

They had submitted a petition to the jail authorities addressed to the chief justice of Orissa High Court on July 11 stating that they did not expect justice from the present trial judge. The court proceedings, which could not be taken up during the last two days because of absence of the seven accused persons, is scheduled to resume on July 22 next.

The judge had asked the accused persons to intimate by that date if the proceedings could continue in their absence.
Bureau Report