In 1999, Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons were burned to death while they slept. In September 2003, thirteen people were convicted of the murder, including a prominent militant Hindu leader, Dara Singh (for more information, see https://www.vomcanada.com/in-2003-09-17.htm).
In October 2003, a film on the work of Staines was announced, with filming to begin in February 2004. A week later, another movie was announced, to be produced by the militant Hindu group Bajrang Dal, entitled "Dara: The Hero." While acknowledging that the actions of Dara Singh were criminal, a spokesman for Bajrang Dal, Subash Chouhan, said that Staines as a villain and the actions of Dara Singh were commendable as they relate to religious conversions. Earlier, a BJP legislator Bidhubhusan Praharaj had openly defended Dara, saying, "he is an ideological person, not a criminal. He is a protector of the Hindu community."
An appeal of Dara's death sentence is presently pending in the Orissa High Court.
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