Baripada (Orissa), May 05: Dara Singh, the prime accused in the sensational murder of Australian missionary, Graham Staines, and his two children, was today acquitted in a separate case of looting at a weekly market here in 1998. Fourteen other accused in the same case of looting at the Kendumundi weekly market were also acquitted by the court of sub-judge at Karanjia for want of evidence.

The looting had occurred on November 15, 1998. Dara, whose real name is Ravindra Kumar Pal, and the other accused persons were present in the court when the judgement was pronounced.

Security measures around the court at Karanjia, 120 km from here, had been tightened prior to the arrival of Dara and other accused from the circle jail here. Bureau Report