He said he had also heard Singh talking to people in a village near Manoharpur in December 1998 about the Australian missionary. If convicted, Singh faces the death penalty by hanging. Attorney Bana Bihari Mohanty petitioned today for Singh's release on bail. Judge Patnaik is expected to rule on the petition tomorrow. The Staines murders followed a string of attacks on churches and Christian missionary institutions in parts of India that began in 1998.
Hindu nationalists are opposed to conversions, especially in the impoverished tribal areas.
Christians represent about 2 percent of India's more than 1 billion people. Your best source of IT news, views and jobs at Australian IT . For all the latest results and news on and off the field, visit Fox Sports .